'h     I*    'T-<     * 


f:j-Gim#-M:ERRJCK 


NOV  '  ?  1916 


The  Boyhood  of  Christ 


A  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  FOR  CHILDREN 


AS  TOLD  BY  A  GRANDMOTHER. 


Adapted  from  the  Frencji  of 
Mme.  La  Oomtesse  de  S^gur 


NOV  17  1916 


MARY  VIRGINIA  MERRICK. 


ST.  LOUIS,  MO.,  1909. 

Fdbushed  by  b.  Hbrder 

17  South  Broadway 


Freiburg  (Baden) 
B.  HERDER 


London  and  Edinburgh 
SANDS  &  CO. 


NIHIL  OBSTAT 
St.  Louis,  die  25,  Sept.  1909. 


F.  G.  Hoi  week, 

Censor  Librorum. 


IMPRIMATUR 
St.  Louis,  die  25,  Sept.  1909. 


JJoannes  J,  Glennon, 

Archiepiscopus 

Sti.  Ludovici. 


Copyright,  1909,  by  Joseph  Gummersbach. 


FOREWORD. 

Our  Holy  Father,  Pius  X.,  at  the  beginning 
of  his  pontificate,  issued  a  great  letter  to  the 
whole  world,  in  which  he  said  that  it  was  the 
desire  of  his  heart  to  restore  all  things  in  Christ. 
Small  as  our  share  must  be  in  such  a  great  work, 
we  can,  at  least,  as  faithful  children  of  our  Holy 
Father,  begin  with  ourselves  and  strive  to  make 
our  own  life  an  imitation  of  the  Life  of  Jesus  of 
Nazareth.  To  know  Him  in  the  flesh,  how  He  lived 
and  talked  and  acted  when  He  was  upon  earth, 
should  surely  be  to  us  not  only  of  the  greatest 
interest,  but  also  the  most  inspiring  call  to  action 
and  faithful  service.  Our  dear  Lord  was  simplicity 
itself,  and  the  translator  of  the  present  work  has 
put  before  us  in  simple  language  that  story — the 
greatest  that  the  world  has  ever  known.  To  make 
ourselves  familiar  with  the  life  of  Jesus  Christ 
from  Bethlehem  to  Calvary,  and  to  the  Mount  of 
the  Ascension,  is  a  most  efficacious  way  to  warm 
our  souls  with  a  love  for  Him  who  died  that  we 
might  live,  a  most  sure  way  of  having  Him  with  us 
through  all  the  days  of  our  life,  and  even  in  the 
hour  when  He  calls  us  unto  that  land  where  He 
waits  for  us. 

J.   CARD.  GIBBONS. 


PREFACE 


This  volume  presents  to  its  young  readers  in  a  manner 
suited  to  their  age  the  life  on  earth  of  our  Blessed  Lord. 
"We  follow  Him  in  this  story  related  for  us  by  His  own 
immediate  followers  in  the  pages  of  the  Holy  Gospel. 

We  see  him  as  an  infant,  a  child,  a  grown  boy,  and 
then,  in  the  fullness  of  His  power,  as  a  man. 

His  whole  life  is  worthy  of  our  study  because  nothing 
begins  to  compare  in  value,  either  in  time  or  eternity, 
with  the  life  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Nothing  is  more  beneficial  to  the  young  boy  or  girl  of 
to-day  than  a  knowledge  of  that  Life.  He  will  find  in  it 
the  instruction  that  he  most  needs  ;  he  will  find  therein 
how  to  live  as  a  boy  and  afterwards  as  a  man  ;  and,  in 
imitating  Christ,  he  will  bring  out  the  very  best  that  is 
in  himself,  both  from  an  earthly  and  a  heavenly  stand- 
point. 

"We  must  remember  that  Jesus  Christ  came  down  from 
heaven  and  became  a  man  and  lived  His  human  life  to 
show  us  how  we  ought  to  live.  There  is  no  one  to  whom 
He  does  not  speak  directly  through  that  life,  and  it  is 
just  as  valuable,  just  as  practical,  now  as  it  was  in  the 
days  when  Christ  walked  upon  earth.  As  we  grow  up 
and  meet  the  little  or  big  things  of  everyday  life,  we  are 
called  upon  to  show  our  worth  and  our  character,  or  to 
show  that  we  haven't  anything  of  either — which  God 
forbid. 

Every  day  we  are  called  upon  to  do  this  little  work  of 
study  or  of  errands  at  home;  to  keep  our  temper  in  this 


game  or  under  this  trial;  to  be  pure,  not  to  seek  to  satisfy 
our  curiosity,  or  our  senses,  by  indulging  in  this  pleas- 
ure or  in  that;  to  keep  to  our  religious  duties;  to  love  our 
parents,  our  brothers,  our  sisters,  with  a  real,  unselfish 
love.  We  are  called  upon  to  stand  for  honesty;  for  fair 
play;  for  truthfulness;  for  purity  and  cleanliness  of  life — 
all  through  our  days. 

All  these  calls  must  come  to  every  one  of  us;  they  do 
come  every  day.  And  it  is  equally  true  that  we  need 
the  example,  the  lesson  of  One  Who  actually  faced  all 
the  evils  of  the  world;  Who  had  pain  and  suffering  and 
yet  Who  conquered  all  and  won  out  in  all.  Jesus  Christ 
was  a  man  among  men,  and  in  His  manhood  He  gave  an 
example  of  what  every  man  should  be;  of  what  every 
one  of  us  should  be.  In  every  case  that  comes  before 
us  where  we  must  ask  ourselves  whether  we  will  do  this 
or  that,  whether  we  will  refrain  from  this  forbidden 
pleasure  or  yield  to  it,  in  every  case  we  can  readily 
see — since  we  know  Him — what  Jesus  Christ  would 
have  done  and  what  He  would  wish  us  to  do.  There  is 
no  uncertainty  about  it;  there  is  no  doubt  about  it. 
Before  us,  as  a  great  light,  the  greatest  light  the  world 
has  ever  known;  greater  and  more  piercing  than  the 
sun,  illuminating  every  soul,  is  the  life  of  Jesus  Christ. 
He  has  given  His  example,  He  has  shown  what  ought 
to  be  done  in  every  case  to  every  boy  and  girl,  every 
man  and  woman. 

To  show  forth  the  splendor  and  the  practical  value  of 
that  Life  has  been  the  object  of  this  Grandmother's 
Story.  It  has  been  a  work  of  much  labor,  but  of  greater 
love.  We  wish  that  our  children  would  study  it;  read  it 
over  time  and  time  again;  read  the  Gospels  from  which 
it  is  taken;  sit  down  quietly  now  and  again  and  think 
of  our  Ivord  Jesus,  think  of  how  we  ourselves  are  imi- 
tating Him;  and   always,   day  and  night,  pray  to  Him 


in  utter  confidence  and  childlike  affection  and  frank- 
ness and  love.  Then,  indeed,  will  you  love  Him  even 
more  than  you  do,  and  the  sweetest,  most  gracious  com- 
fort in  your  life  will  be  the  personal  love  that  you  bear 
to  Jesus  Christ;  and  nothing,  no  sin  of  any  kind,  will 
ever  separate  you  from  Him.  That  love  will  be  your 
abiding  support,  and  upon  it  you  will  find  that  you  can 
lean  when  all  else  fails. 

May  the  knowledge  and  the  love  of  Him  sink  deep 
into  your  hearts;  so  deep  that  nothing  will  ever  be  strong 
enough  or  alluring  enough  to  root  it  out.  Live  for  Him; 
grow  like  unto  Him;  and  then,  as  He  was,  so  will  you 
be,  kind  and  patient  and  pure  and  hopeful.  In  the 
Sacrament  of  the  Holy  Eucharist  will  you  possess  Him 
as  your  very  own;  then  will  you  speak  to  Him  and 
He  to  you,  and  the  glories  that  your  soul  will  know  in 
its  communions  with  Him  through  life  will  be  unfolded, 
in  all  their  fullness  when  he  asks  you  to  come  to  Him 
in  the  Kingdom  where  He  now  reigns. 

JOHN  J.  BURKE,  C.  S.  P. 


INTRODUCTION. 

Sophie,  Comtesse  de  Segur,  was  born  in  the  year 
1799  in  Russia.  Her  father  was  the  Count  Rostop- 
schine  who  at  that  time  was  Prime  Minister  to  the 
Emperor  Paul.  The  Czar  stood  Godfather  to  little 
Sophie  who  was  baptized  in  the  Greek  Church, which 
later  on  in  life  Sophie  renounced  to  embrace  the 
Catholic  faith, 

Sophie's  childhood  and  girlhood  were  spent  in 
Russia  as  one  of  a  large  and  happy  family  of  brothers 
and  sisters. 

At  an  early  age  she  met  and  married  the  Count  de 
Segur  of  France,  in  which  country  she  ever  after- 
wards resided. 

This  happy  union  was  blessed  with  many  children, 
one  of  whom  became  Monseigneur  de  Segur,  so  well 
beloved  in  Paris,  where  for  many  years  he  exercised 
his  priestly  ministry.  His  numerous  writings,  num- 
bering at  least  one  hundred  brochures,  or  small 
books,  testify  to  his  piety  and  love  of  little  children. 

This  affection  for  the  lambs  of  his  flock,  Monseig- 
neur de  Segur  imbibed  from  his  mother,  all  her  life 
a  lover  of  children.  When  time  had  lessened  her 
maternal  cares^  Mme,  de  Segur  found  her  greatest 
happiness  in  living  over,   in    the  company  of  her 


INTRODUCTION 

grandchildren,  the  years  of  her  motherhood.  She 
was  the  devoted  grandmother  of  thirteen  little  ones, 
whose  greatest  delight  was  to  listen  to  the  stories 
she  could  so  well  tell  and  to  which  their  mothers  had 
listened  as  eagerly. 

It  was  not  until  late  in  life  that  Mme.  deSegur  com- 
mitted to  writing  these  charming  tales,  and  which 
to  this  day  are  read  with  delight  by  the  children  over 
the  sea. 

Among  these  tales  none  was  listened  to  with 
greatest  interest  than  that  wonderful  story  of  God 
become  man,  and  for  thirty-three  years  making  our 
earth  his  home. 

We  can  picture  this  happy  band  of  little  ones 
gathered  on  a  bright  morning  in  grandma's  sunny 
room  and  begging  for  the  promised  story  of  Christ. 

There  they  all  are,  Camille  and  her  sister  Made- 
leine, Elizabeth  and  her  four  brothers,  Pierre,  Henry, 
Louis,  and  Jack,  and  their  cousins,  Henrietta  and 
Jane,  Valentine,  Mary,  Theresa,  and  even  Paul  and 
little  Louis,  only  five  years  old,  all  eager  to  hear. 

The  sunlight  streams  in  on  expectant  faces,  on 
golden  curies,  brown  hair,  and  grandma's  white 
head.  The  canary  sings  his  loudest  while  the  chil- 
dren scramble  for  the  places  at  grandma's  right 
and  left. 

Finally  all  are  seated,  and  grandma,  seated  in  her 
big  armchair,  begins  The  Story  of  Christ. 


INDEX. 

BOOK  FIRSl 
The  Childhood  of  Jesus. 

Page 

Chap.       1.     The  Jews 3 

2.  '*      Annunciation 5 

3.  "     Visitation 8 

4.  Birth  of  John  the  Baptist    11 

5.  Birth  of  Jesus  Christ 1  j^ 

Adoration  of  the  Shepherds / 

6.  The  Wise  Men 17 

7.  The  Presentation  in  the  Temple 21 

8.  The  Massacre  of  the  Innocents 25 

9.  Jesus  Among  the  Doctors 28 

BOOK  SECOND 

First  Year  of  the  Ministry  of  Jesus. 

Page 

Chap.    10.     St.  John  the  Baptist 1  32 

Baptism  of  Christ J 

11.  Jesus  in  the  Desert 1,  3g 

The  Temptation j 

12.  The  Testimony  of  John t  4q 

The  First  Disciples  of  Jesus J 

13.  The  Marriage  Feast  at  Cana 45 

14.  The  Hucksters  Driven  From  the  Temple 48 

15.  The  Samaritan  Woman,  or  Jesus  at  Jacob's  Well  50 

16.  Jesus  Teaches  in  the  Synagogue 53 

17.  Jesus  Heals  the  Son  of  the  Ruler 56 

18.  Jesus  Calls  Peter  and  Andrew 58 

19.  Jesus  Cures  the  Demoniac 60 

20.  The  Miraculous  Draught  of  Fishes 62 

21.  The  Curing  of  the  Leper 66 

22.  The  Calling  of  Matthew 70 

23.  The  Healing  of  the  Paralytic 72 


BOOK  THIRD. 

Second  Year  of  the  Ministry  of  Jesus. 

Page 
Chap.     24.    The  Pool  of  Bethesda 75 

25.  The  Man  with  the  Withered  Hand 80 

26.  Jesus  Chooses  His  Twelve  Apostles 82 

27.  The  Sermon  on  the  Mount 84 

28.  The  "Our  Father" 92 

29.  The  Centurion 97 

30.  The  Son  of  the  Widow  of  Nairn 100 

31.  John  the  Baptist  Sends  His  Disciples  to  Jesus. .  102 

32.  The  Sinful  Woman  in  the  House  of  Simon 104 

33.  Miracles  and  Parables  of  Jesus 107 

34.  The  Quieting  of  the  Tempest 114 

35.  The  Cure  of  the  Man  Possessed  of  an  Evil  Spirit  116 

36.  The  Daughter  of  Jairus 119 

37.  The  Curing  of  the  Blind  and  the  Dumb 122 

38.  Christ  Visits  Nazareth 125 

39.  The  Mission  of  the  Apostles 127 

40.  Beheading  of  John  the  Baptist 132 

41.  The  Feeding  of  the  Multitude  in  the  Desert 135 

42.  Christ  Walks  Upon  the  Water 138 

43.  The  Promise  of  the  Eucharist 141 

44.  The  Woman  of  Chanaan 145 

45.  Cure  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Man 148 

46.  Jesus  Feeds  the  Multitude 150 

47.  The  Cure  of  the  Blind  Man 152 

BOOK  FOURTH. 

Third  Year  of  the  Ministry  of  Jesus. 

Page 

Chap.    48.  Christ  Establishes  Peter  Head  of  His  Church. . .   154 

49.  Christ  Predicts  His  Death  and  Resurrection ....   157 

50.  The  Transfiguration  of  Our  Lord 160 

51.  The  Healing  of  the  Boy  Possessed  of  the  Devil .  162 

52.  Jesus  Pays  the  Tribute  Money 166 

53.  Dispute  Among  the  Disciples 168 

54.  Parable  of  the  King  and  His  Servants 172 

55.  The  Samaritans  Refuse  to  Receive  Jesus 176 

56.  Parable  of  the  Good  Samaritan 178 

57.  Martha  and  Mary 180 

58.  The  Barren  Fig  Tree 183 

59.  The  Cure  of  the  Woman  Bent  Double 185 


Page 

Chap.    60.     Christ  Weeps  Over  Jerusalem    186 

"        61.     A  Parable  on  Humility 187 

"        62.     Parable  of  the  Feast 190 

63.     We  Are  to  Love  God  Above  All 193 

"        64.  Parable  of  the  Good  Shepherd  and  of  the  Lost 

Groat 196 

65.     The  Prodigal  Son 198 

"         66.     Parable   of  the  Rich  Man  and  Lazarus 203 

67.  The  Pharisees  Seek  to  Lay  Hold  of  Jesus 207 

68.  The  Sinful  Woman 209 

"        69.     Cure  of  the  Man  Born  Blind 212 

70.  The  Good  Shepherd 217 

71.  The  Ten  Lepers 219 

' '        72.    The  Pharisee  and  the  Publican \    221 

Christ  Blesses  Little  Children J 

73.  Christ  and  the  Rich  Young  Man 224 

74.  Parable  of  the  Workmen  in  the  Vineyard 228 

"        75.    The  Raising  of  Lazarus 231 

"        76.    Jesus  Foretells  His  Death  and  Resurrection 237 

'*        77.    Zaccheus  Receives  Jesus  iu  His  House 239 

78.     Parable  of  the  Ten  Talents 241 

'*        79.  Mary  Magdalene  Anoints  the  Feet  of  Jesus. .  . .  245 

BOO/iT  FIFTH.  * 

The  Last  Days  in  the  Ministry  of  Jesus. 

Page 

Chap.    80.  The  Triumphal  Entry  of  Jesus  into  Jerusalem . .  247 

"        81.  Jesus  Weeps  over  Jerusalem 249 

"        82.  Jesus  Condemns  the  Barren  Fig  Tree \  253 

The  Venders  Driven  From  the  Temple j 

"        83.  Christ  Answers  the  Pharisees  255 

"        84.  Parable  of  the  Vineyard  and  the  Husbandmen . .  257 

85.  Parable  of  the  Wedding  Feast 261 

86.  The  Tribute  to  Caesar 263 

•'        87.  The  Love  of  God  and  of  Our  Neighbor 265 

88.  The  Widow's  Mite 268 

"        89.  Jesus  Predicts  the  Ruin  of  Jerusalem,  and  the 

Last  Day 269 

"        90.  Parable  of  the  Ten  Virgins 270 

*'        91.  Judas  Determines  to  Betray  Christ 274 

"        92.  The  Last  Supper 277 

'^l.  Christ  Washes  the  Feet  of  His  Disciples  280 

94,  The  Institution  of  the  Blessed  Eucharist 283 


BOOK  SIXTH. 

The  Passion  and  the  Resurrection  of  Jesus. 

Page 
Chap.     95.     The  Agony  in  the  Garden 287 

96.  Judas  Betrays  Christ 291 

97.  Jesus  Before  Annas 294 

98.  Jesus  Before  Caiphus 296 

99.  Peter  Denies  Christ 298 

100.  Despair  and  Death  of  Judas 300 

101.  Christ  Before  Pilate 302 

102.  Christ  Before  Herod 304 

103.  Christ  Sent  Back  to  Pilate 305 

104.  Christ  is  Scourged 307 

105.  Pilate  Condemns  Christ  to  Death 309 

106.  Christ  Carries   His  Cross 313 

107.  Christ  is  Crucified 315 

108.  The  Conversion  of  the  Good  Thief 317 

109.  Christ  Leaves  His  Mother  to  St.  John   320 

110.  Christ  Dies  on  the  Cross 322 

111.  Christ  is  Buried 324 

112.  The  Resurrection  of  Christ 328 

113.  Mary  Magdalene  at  the  Tomb  of  Christ 331 

114.  Christ  Appears  to  Mary  Magdalene 333 

115.  Christ  Appears  to  the  Holy  Women 335 

116.  Christ  Appears  to  the  Disciples  on  the  Road  to 
Emmaus 337 

117.  Christ  Appears  to  the  Disciples  Gathered  To- 
gether   339 

118.  The  Incredulity  of  Thomas 342 

119.  St.  Peter  Appointed  Head  of  the  Church 344 

120.  Christ  Ascends  into  Heaven 346 


iv 


THE  CHILDREN'S  UFE  OF  CHRIST        3 


BOOK  FIRST 

The  Childhood  of  Jesus 

CHAPTER  I. 

THE  JEWS. 

Grandma:  I  am  about  to  tell  you  the  story  of 
Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  the  Second  Person  of 
the  Blessed  Trinity;  God  made  man  to  redeem  us 
from  sin  and  eternal  death.  I  may  in  the  course  of 
this  wonderful  story  use  words  which  the  little  ones 
may  not  understand,  do  not  fail  to  interrupt  me  and 
ask  any  question  you  wish. 

The  Jews  were  a  people  favored  by  God.  Over 
this  nation  he  watched  with  special  care.  To  them 
he  had  foretold  through  his  servants,  the  prophets, 
the  coming  of  his  Son,  Jesus  Christ,  who  was  to  be 
bom  among  them  and  who  was  to  save  them  from 
the  evil  ones. 

The  Jews  should  have  been  very  good,  being  so 
blessed  by  God,  but  they  were  often  wicked  and 
rebelled  against  God  and  against  the  kings  God  ap- 
pointed over  them;  but  God  is  so  good  and  merciful 
that  he  forgives  as  often  as  we  repent  and  beg  his 
forgiveness,  and  as  often  as  the  Jews  fell  into  sin 
and  repented,  God  would  forgive  them,  but  un- 
fortunately they  would  fall  again. 


4       THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

God  had  given  them  a  beautiful  country  which 
was  called  Judea  and  later  on  was  called  Palestine. 

There  they  lived  and  waited  for  this  Savior, 
whose  coming  the  prophets  had  foretold  centuries 
before. 

They  thought  the  Son  of  God  would  come  in  great 
glory,  as  the  most  powerful  and  the  richest  of  kings; 
that  he  would  have  a  large  following  and  immense 
wealth. 

While  they  were  waiting  and  studying  the  words 
of  the  prophets,  and  disputing  among  themselves 
concerning  this  promised  Messias  and  the  time  of  his 
coming,  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  our  Lord  and 
Savior,  was  about  to  be  born  in  Judea. 


Annunciation 


THE  CHILDREN'S   LIFE  OF  CHRIST      5 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE   ANNUNCIATION. 

Joachim  and  Anna,  two  faithful  servants  of  God 
who  were  descended  from  the  great  Jewish  king, 
David,  were  blessed  with  a  daughter  named  Mary. 

At  the  age  of  fifteen  Mary  was  espoused  to  her 
cousin,  Joseph,  who  was  also  of  the  House  of  David. 

Mary  was  the  most  beautiful,  the  wisest,  and  the 
most  perfect  of  all  God's  creatures.  One  day  while 
she  was  praying  in  her  home  at  Nazareth,  suddenly 
before  her  stood  a  beautiful  angel,  resplendent  with 
light.  It  was  the  Angel  Gabriel,  God's  messenger, 
and  he  said  to  Mary:  "Hail,  full  of  grace,  the  Lord 
is  with  thee;  blessed  art  thou  among  women."  At 
these  words  of  the  angel  Mary  grew  troubled,  be- 
cause she  was  very  humble  and  never  thought  of 
her  many  virtues,  and  considered  herself  therefore 
unworthy  of  being  spoken  to  by  the  angel  as  "blessed 
among  women." 

While  thinking  within  herself  what  such  a  greeting 
might  mean,  the  angel  spoke  again  and  said  to  her: 
"Fear  not,  Mary,  thou  hast  found  grace  with  God. 
Thou  shalt  bring  forth  a  son,  and  thou  shalt  call  his 
name  Jesus.     He  shall  be  great,  and  shall  be  called 


6       THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

the  Son  of  the  Most  High;  and  the  Lord  God  shall 
give  unto  him  the  throne  of  David,  his  father;  and 
he  shall  reign  forever,  and  of  his  kingdom  there  shall 
be  no  end." 

And  Mary  said  to  the  angel:  "How  shall  this  be 
done?"     The  Angel  answering  said  to  her: 

"The  Holy  Ghost  shall  come  upon  thee,  and  the 
power  of  the  Most  High  shall  overshadow  thee.  And 
therefore  also  the  Holy  which  shall  be  bom  of  thee 
shall  be  called  the  Son  of  God." 

The  angel  added  that  in  three  months  her  cousin, 
Elizabeth,  who  was  old,  and  whom  people  mocked 
and  called  sterile,  would  also  have  a  son,  to  show  that 
nothing  was  impossible  to  God, 

And  Mary  said:  "Behold  the  handmaid  of  the 
Ivord;  be  it  done  to  me  according  to  thy  word." 
And  the  angel  left  her — 

Elizabeth:  Grandma,  why  did  the  angel  say  that 
people  mocked  Elizabeth  because  she  was  sterile? 
What  is  sterile? 

Grandma:  Sterile  means  that  she  had  never  had 
a  child.  The  Jews  considered  this  a  great  disgrace, 
because  every  Jew  hoped  that  Jesus,  the  Messias, 
promised  by  God  to  deliver  the  world  from  sin, 
would  be  bom  in  their  family,  and  when  a  Jew  was 
not  blessed  with  children  he  could  not  cherish  this 
hope. 

Henry:  And  why  did  the  angel  say  he  would  be 
great  ?     How  would  he  be  great  ? 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST       7 

Grandma:  The  angel  meant  he  would  be  great 
in  holiness  and  in  power. 

Louis:  Why  did  the  angel  say  he  would  reign 
forever?  He  did  not  reign  at  all,  and  doesn't  reign 
now. 

Grandma:  The  angel  spoke  of  the  spiritual  king- 
dom of  Jesus  over  the  whole  world.  The  kingdom 
of  Jesus  is  the  Church.  The  pope,  the  bishops,  and 
the  priests  of  the  Church  have  been  working  for 
eighteen  hundred  years  to  establish  the  kingdom  of 
Jesus  Christ  on  this  earth.  Our  Lord  has  returned  to 
Heaven  where  he  now  is,  where  he  will  be  forever, 
and  whence  he  reigns  and  rules  over  all  men;  where 
he  rewards  the  good  and  punishes  the  wicked. 

Now,  I  shall  tell  you  the  story  of  the  Visitation, 
that  is  to  say,  the  visit  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary 
to   her  cousin,   Elizabeth,   the   wife  of   Zachary,  a 
priest  of  the  temple  of  Jerusalem. 
Jane:  What  is  a  temple? 

Grandma:  The  temple  was  for  the  Jews  what  the 
church  is  for  us.  It  was  the  house  of  God.  In  the 
temple  they  kept  the  commandments  of  God  written 
on  tables  of  stone,  which  they  called  the  "Tables 
of  the  Law." 

It  was  here  all  sacred  things  were  preserved,  and 
it  was  in  the  temple  the  Jews  gathered  together  to 
offer  up  their  sacrifices. 


8       THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE    VISITATION. 

Zachary  was  a  Jewish  priest.  He  and  his  wife, 
EHzabeth,  were  very  old.  Elizabeth  was  eighty 
years  of  age.  They  had  no  children,  which  saddened 
them  greatly. 

Henry:  Did  the  Jewish  priests  marry? 

Grandma:  Yes,  the  priests  of  the  Jewish  law 
married,  because  the  old  law  was  not  as  perfect  as 
our  law,  and  did  not  exact  of  the  priests  a  life  of 
such  absolute  devotion  and  renunciation. 

Our  priests  have  no  wives,  in  order  that  they  may 
devote  themselves  more  exclusively  to  the  service 
of  God,  to  the  salvation  of  souls,  to  the  relief  of  the 
poor,  and  to  the  religious  instruction  of  children. 

One  day  Zachary  entered  the  temple  to  offer 
incense  to  God  at  the  alter  of  the  sanctuary. 

The  people  remained  outside,  praying.  Accord- 
ing to  the  Jewish  custom,  the  priests  alone  had  the 
right  to  enter  this  part  of  the  temple.  While  Zach- 
ary  was  praying  and  burning  incense,  he  saw  an 
angel  standing  at  the  right  of  the  alter. 

Zachary  was  troubled  and  frightened  at  the 
apparition  of  an  angel,  but  the  angel  said  to  him: 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST       9 

"Fear  not,  Zachary,  for  thy  prayer  is  heard;  and 
thy  wife,  EHzabeth,  shall  bear  a  son,  and  thou  shalt 
call  his  name  John.  And  thou  shalt  have  joy  and 
gladness,  and  many  shall  rejoice  in  his  nativity.  He 
shall  be  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  he  shall 
convert  many  of  the  children  of  Isreal  to  the  Lord 
their  God." 

Zachary  found  it  difficult  to  believe  the  words  of 
the  angel,  and  said  to  him: 

"Whereby  shall  I  know  this?  for  I  am  an  old  man, 
and  my  wife  is  advanced  in  years." 

The  Angel  answered : 

"I  am  Gabriel,  who  stand  before  God;  and  am 
sent  to  speak  to  thee,  and  to  bring  thee  these  good 
tidings.  And  behold,  thou  shalt  be  dumb,  and  shalt 
not  be  able  to  speak  until  the  day  wherein  these 
things  shall  come  to  pass,  because  thou  hast  not 
believed  my  words,  which  shall  be  fulfilled  in  their 
time." 

And   the   angel   disappeared. 

When  Zachary  came  out  of  the  temple  the  people 
asked  him  why  he  had  tarried  so  long  inside;  but  he 
could  not  answer,  for  he  was  dumb. 

A  short  while  after  this  Zachary  knew  the  angel's 
promise  would  soon  be  fulfilled  and  that  Elizabeth 
would  have  a  son. 

Elizabeth  rejoiced  and  thanked  God  who  had  now 
taken  from  her  the  humilation  under  which  she  had 
so  long  lived. 


10     THE  CHIIvDRHNS   LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

While  Elizabeth  was  praising  God  for  this  great 
favor,  her  cousin,  the  Virgin  Mary,  who  knew  of  this 
good  news  from  the  angel,  asked  her  spouse,  Joseph, 
to  take  her  to  visit  Elizabeth.  Joseph  consented, 
and  they  set  out  on  foot  for  the  city  of  Hebron, 
where  dwelt  Elizabeth,  across  the  hills  of  Judea. 

When  Mary  entered  the  house  she  greeted  her 
cousin,  Elizabeth.  As  soon  as  Elizabeth  heard 
Mary's  voice  she  was  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  who 
revealed  to  her  that  Mary  was  to  be  the  mother  of 
the  Son  of  God,  and  she  cried  out : 

"Blessed  art  thou  among  women,  and  blessed  is 
the  fruit  of  thy  womb.  And  whence  is  this  (honor) 
to  me,  that  the  mother  of  my  Lord  should  come  to 
me?"  To  whom  Mary  replied  in  the  words  of  that 
beautiful  hymn  of  thanksgiving,  called  the  "Mag- 
nificat," which  is  sung  in  Church  at  the  end  of 
Vespers. 

After  Mary  had  spent  three  months  with  her 
cousin,  Elizabeth,  she  returned  to  her  own  home 
in  Nazareth. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      11 


CHAPTER  IV. 

BIRTH  OF  JOHN  THE  BAPTIST. 

At  the  time  predicted  by  the  Angel  Gabriel  EHz- 
abeth  gave  birth  to  a  son.  On  hearing  this  glad  news 
many  came  to  congratulate  her,  for  Elizabeth  had 
long  desired  a  son,  and  had  prayed  fervently  that 
she  might  one  day  be  a  mother.  On  the  eighth  day 
after  the  birth  of  the  child,  according  to  the  custom 
of  the  Jewish  people,  the  priests  came  to  circum- 
cise him. 

Henry:  What  does  circumcise  mean ? 

Grandma:  Circumcision  was  the  mark  of  the 
Jewish  religion,  and  when  administered  the  child 
received  its  name  as  do  Christians  when  they  re- 
ceive baptism. 

The  priests,  therefore,  wished  to  circumcise  the 
child,  and  to  give  him  his  father's  name,  Zachary. 
But  Elizabeth  said  to  them:  "Not  so;  he  shall  be 
called  John."  But  they  replied:  "There  is  none 
of  thy  kindred  called  by  that  name."  In  Hebcew 
John  signified  full  of  grace. 

As  Elizabeth  insisted,  Zachary  was  asked  to  in- 
dicate in  some  way  what  should  be  the  child's  name. 


12     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Zachary,  taking  a  writing  tablet,  wrote:  "John 
is  his  name." 

This  surprised  every  one,  and,  at  that  moment 
Zachary's  tongue  was  loosed  miraculously,  and  he 
began  to  speak  and  to  praise  God. 

All  those  present  and  all  the  people  of  the  neigh- 
borhood were  filled  with  wonder  and  admiration. 
And  they  came  from  far  and  wide  to  see  this  child, 
whose  birth  was  accompanied  by  such  miracles; 
and  they  said  to  one  another :  "What  a  one,  think  ye, 
this  child  shall  be?  For  the  hand  of  the  Lord  was 
with  him." 

And  John  grew  and  increased  in  strength  and  was 
remarkably  intelligent,  and  when  he  grew  older  he 
withdrew  into  the  desert. 

Mary:  What  is  a  desert  ? 

Grandma:  The  desert  is  a  desolate  place  of  sandy 
soil  in  which  nothing  can  grow.  John  withdrew 
into  the  desert  to  prepare  for  his  great  mission  of 
Precursor;  that  is  to  say,  forerunner  of  Christ.  He 
was  to  announce  the  coming  of  Jesus,  the  Savior  of 
the  world 


The  Nativity 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      13 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE    BIRTH    OF    JESUS    CHRIST.      ADORATION    OF    THE 
SHEPHERDS. 

Grandma:  Shortly  before  the  birth  of  Jesus, 
Augustus  Caesar,  Emperor  of  Rome  and  ruler  of 
Judea,  ordered  that  a  census  be  taken  of  all  the 
inhabitants  of  the  countries  under  his  rule.  Cy- 
rinus,  Governor  of  Syria,  obeying  this  injunction, 
issued  an  edict  that  all  the  people  of  Syria  and  Judea 
should  be  enrolled,  each  in  the  city  of  his  fore- 
fathers. At  this  time  Joseph  lived  in  Nazareth,  a 
city  of  Galilee,  and  to  be  enrolled  according  to  this 
command  of  Ceasar's  he  was  obliged  to  travel  to 
Bethlehem,  a  little  town  in  the  province  of  Judea, 
near  Jerusalem,  about  twenty-five  miles  from 
Nazareth.  Bethlehem  was  the  city  of  David  and 
of  his  family,  and  you  remember  that  I  told  you  that 
Joseph  and  Mary  were  of  the  family  of  David.  He 
set  out,   therefore,   with  Mary  his  espoused  wife. 

The  journey  was  long  and  Mary  was  very  weary 
when  they  reached  Bethlehem,  and  Joseph  anx- 
iously sought  a  shelter  for  his  spouse,  but  every- 
where he  was  refused.     A  large  concourse  of  people 


14     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

had  come  to  this  city  to  be  enrolled,  "and  there 
was  no  room  for  them  in  the  inn." 

When  Joseph  was  turned  away  from  the  inn,  not 
knowing  where  to  turn  to  find  a  resting  place  for 
Mary,  he  wandered  outside  of  the  city,  and  there, 
near  the  gates  of  the  city,  he  found  a  cave,  which 
served  as  a  stable  to  shelter  cows  and  mules. 

Tradition  tells  us  that  King  David  had  often 
rested  in  this  cave  when,  as  a  shepherd,  he  watched 
his  flocks  nearby.  There  Joseph  prepared  for  Mary 
a  bed  of  straw,  and  in  that  stable  of  Bethlehem 
Jesus  came  into  the  world.  In  the  country  round 
about  Bethlehem,  as  in  the  days  of  King  David, 
there  were  shepherds  keeping  watch  over  their  flocks 
by  day  and  night  for  fear  they  might  be  stolen  or 
harm  come  to  them.  Suddenly,  in  the  middle  of 
the  night  "an  angel  of  the  Lord  stood  by  them,  and 
the  brightness  of  God  shone  round  about  them;  and 
they  feared  with  a  great  fear;  but  the  angel  said  to 
them:  Fear  not;  for,  behold,  I  bring  you  good 
tidings  of  great  joy,  that  shall  be  to  all  the  people; 
for  this  day  is  bom  to  you  a  Savior,  who  is  Christ 
the  Lord,  in  the  city  of  David.  And  this  shall  be 
a  sign  unto  you.  You  shall  find  the  Infant  wrapped 
in  swaddling  clothes,  and  laid  in  a  manger." 

Jane:    What  is  a  manger? 

Grandma:  A  manger  is  a  kind  of  trough  out  of 
which  the  animals  of  the  stable  eat. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      15 

John:  But  the  poor  infant  must  have  been  very 
uncomfortable  in  such  a  cradle. 

Grandma:  Yes;  he  was  poorly  cradled  and 
clothed,  but  God  so  willed  it. 

Jane:  How  was  it  that  God,  who  is  his  father, 
and  who  made  all  things,  did  not  give  him  a  nice 
cradle  and  a  beautiful  home,  instead  of  letting  him 
lie  in  a  manger  in  a  miserable  stable? 

Grandma:  Because  the  Child  Jesus  wished  to 
show  us,  by  his  example,  that  we  must  not  desire 
the  riches  of  this  world,  nor  set  our  hearts  on  those 
things  that  wealth  can  give;  and  that  we  must  love 
privations  and  humiliations. 

Louise:  I  don't  want  to  lie  in  a  manger  nor  live 
in  a  stable. 

Grandma:  We  are  not  obliged  to  sleep  in  a  stable, 
but  we  are  called  upon  not  to  be  too  exacting  or  too 
fond  of  our  own  ease  and  comfort. 

After  the  angel  had  told  the  shepherds  how  they 
were  to  recognize  the  Child,  "there  was  suddenly 
with  the  angel  a  multitude  of  the  heavenly  army, 
praising  God,  and  saying:  'Glory  to  God  in  the 
highest;  and  on  earth  peace  to  men  of  good  will.'  " 
After  the  angels  left  the  shepherds  "they  said  to  one 
another,  lets  us  go  over  to  Bethlehem,  and  let  us 
see  this  Word  that  has  come  to  pass,  which  the 
Lord  hath  showed  to  us'.  And  they  came  with  haste; 
and  found  Mary  and  Joseph,  and  the  infant  lying  in 
a  manger."     And  when  they  saw  the  Child  they 


16     THK  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

adored  him  and  they  understood  the  words  of  the 
angel. 

All  those  to  whom  the  shepherds  told  of  this  first 
Christmas  night  wondered  at  the  marvelous  things 
they  heard.  And  Mary,  the  mother  of  Jesus,  kept 
in  her  heart  the  memory  of  all  these  things  and 
dwelt  on  them  lovingly. 

At  the  end  of  eight  days  the  Child  was  circumcised, 
and  the  name  of  Jesus  was  given  him,  as  the  Angel 
Gabriel  had  told  Mary  before  his  coming. 


Adoration  of  the  Wisemen 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      17 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE    WISE    MEN. 

Shortly  after  these  events  news  came  to  Herod 
that  there  were  strangers  in  Jerusalem,  Wise  Men 
from  the  East,  and  that  they  were  asking  of  every 
one:  "Where  is  he  that  is  bom  King  of  the  Jews? 
For  we  have  seen  his  star  in  the  east,  and  are  come 
to  adore  him." 

When  Herod  heard  this,  he  was  alarmed,  for  he 
feared  that  a  king  greater  than  he  should  come  and 
take  from  him  his  kingdom. 

He  sent,  therefore,  for  the  Wise  Men  and  ques- 
tioned them  and  learnt  that  the  king  of  whom  they 
spoke  and  whom  they  sought  was  Christ,  the  Mes- 
sias,  whose  coming  the  Jews  expected  as  foretold  to 
them  by  the  prophets. 

Then  Herod  sent  for  the  priests,  the  scribes,  and 
all  the  learned  men  of  Jerusalem  and  inquired  of 
them  where  the  Christ  was  to  be  bom.  And  they 
answered:  "In  Bethlehem  of  Judea.  For  so  it  is 
written  by  the  prophet." 

And  calling  aside  the  Wise  Men  he  questioned 
them  with  great  care  as  to  the  time  the  star  had 
appeared  to  them. 


18     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

The  Wise  Men,  who  are  also  called  the  Magi,  told 
Herod  that  the  coming  of  Jesus  Christ  had  been 
revealed  to  them,  and  that  a  star,  larger  and  more 
beautiful  than  all  the  other  stars  of  the  heavens,  had 
appeared  in  the  east  as  a  sign  to  them  of  the  birth  of 
this  promised  Messias,  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  God. 
They  related  how  they  had  immediately  set  out  to 
find  him,  the  star  going  before  them  and  guiding 
them  on  their  way.  They  added  that  this  star  had 
disappeared  as  they  reached  Jerusalem,  and  there- 
fore they  were  eagerly  asking  to  see  this  King  of  the 
Jews,  whose  coming  had  been  foretold  to  them,  and 
whom  they  had  come  so  far  to  seek  that  they  might 
adore  him. 

Herod  thanked  them  and  told  them  to  go  to  Bethle- 
hem, for  it  had  been  foretold  that  in  that  city  would 
be  born  the  Messias  who  was  to  save  all  men  and 
deliver  them  from  the  power  of  the  evil  one. 

"Go,"  he  said,  "and  diligently  inquire  after  the 
Child,  and  when  you  have  found  him,  bring  me  word 
again,  that  I  also  may  come  and  adore  him." 

The  Magi  set  out  again,  and  immediately  the  star 
reappeared,  and  "seeing  the  star  they  rejoiced  with 
exceeding  great  joy,"  and  it  went  before  them,  as  it 
had  done  in  their  long  journey ings  "until  it  came 
and  stood  over  the  cave  where  the  Child  was." 

The  Magi,  with  joy  in  their  hearts,  entered  the 
stable,  "and  there  they  found  the  Child  with  Mary 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      19 

his  mother,  and  falling  down  they  adored  him;  and 
opening  their  treasures,  they  offered  him  gifts: 
gold,   frankincense,   and   myrrh," 

Jack:  Is  incense  a  treasure?  I  don't  think  that 
is  much  of  a  gift.     We  bum  it  in  all  our  churches. 

Grandma:  The  incense  we  bum  is  a  resin,  a 
kind  of  gum,  which  flows  from  certain  trees;  but  it 
has  not  the  delicious  fragrance  of  the  incense  of 
Arabia  and  Judea.  This  incense  was,  and  still  is, 
very  rare  and  costly. 

Jack:  But  what  could  the  Child  Jesus  and  his 
mother  do  with  it?  It  seems  a  very  useless  gift  to 
me. 

Grandma:  The  Magi  offered  incense,  not  only 
as  a  precious  and  valuable  gift,  but  as  an  homage, 
as  an  act  of  worship,  showing  by  this  offering  that 
they  recognized  this  Child  as  the  Son  of  God,  for 
incense  is  offered  only  to  God. 

H enri etta:     What  is  myrrh  ? 

Grandma:  Myrrh  is  a  very  precious  perfume; 
very  bitter  to  the  taste.  This  gift  signified  that 
Jesus  was  to  suffer  much  to  atone  for  the  sins  of 
men,  and  would  finally  die  to  save  mankind.  All 
this  God  had  revealed  to  the  Magi. 

After  having  adored  the  Child,  the  Wise  Men 
made  ready  to  return  to  their  own  country.  But 
before  setting  out,  an  angel  appeared  to  them  in 
their  sleep  and  commanded  them  to  go  back  an- 


20     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

other  way,  forbidding  them  to  return  to  Herod  in 
Jerusalem,  and  warning  them  that  Herod  only 
wished  to  find  the  Child  that  he  might  put  him  to 
death. 

In  the  meanwhile  Herod  waited  and  grew  im- 
patient at  their  delay,  and  wondered  that  they  failed 
to  return  to  him  as  he  had  commanded  them  to  do. 


Presentation  in  the  Temple 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      21 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  PRESENTATION  IN  THE  TEMPLE. 
THE  FLIGHT  INTO  EGYPT. 

After  the  return  of  the  Magi  to  their  own  country 
it  was  time  when,  according  to  the  law  of  Moses, 
Mary  was  obHged  to  go  to  Jerusalem  to  present  the 
Child  Jesus  in  the  Temple  and  offer  a  sacrifice. 

Joseph  and  Mary  offered  two  turtle  doves,  as  the 
customary  offering  of  the  poor.  The  rich  always 
offered  a  lamb. 

Louis:  Why  were  doves  and  lambs  offered?  To 
whom  were  they  offered  ? 

Grandma:  According  to  the  law  of  the  Jews  as, 
all  men  belonged  to  God,  parents  were  obliged  to 
offer  their  children  to  God  as  soon  as  possible  after 
their  birth  for  the  service  of  the  Temple. 

After  making  this  offering,  however,  they  were 
allowed  to  take  back  their  infants,  leaving  in  their 
stead  offerings  of  turtle  doves  or  lambs,  according  to 
their  means.  The  high  priests  received  these  offer- 
ings and  killed  them  and  oft'ered  them  to  the  Lord 
as  a  sacrifice  agreeable  to  him. 

Pa^d:     But  this  was  not  true,  was  it,  grandma? 

Grandma:  Oh,  yes;  it  was  true.  God  was 
pleased    with    these    sacrifices    because    they    were 


22     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE   OF  CHRIST 

offered  in  obedience  to  the  law,  and  God  delights  in 
obedience. 

Elizabeth:  But  why  had  God  commanded  sacri- 
fices? How  could  the  blood  of  animals  be  agreeable 
to  him? 

Grandma:  The  blood  of  these  animals  was  not  in 
itself  agreeable  to  God,  but  only  because  it  pre- 
figured the  sacrifice  of  the  cross,  by  which  divine 
sacrifice  Jesus  Christ  was  to  save  us.  The  day  the 
Virgin  Mary  and  her  husband,  Joseph,  carried  the 
Infant  Jesus  to  the  Temple,  they  found  there  an  old 
man  named  Simeon  who  was  a  just  man  and  obe- 
dient to  the  law  of  God.  It  had  been  revealed  to 
him  that  before  his  eyes  closed  in  death  he  would 
see  the  Messias,  Christ,  the  Son  of  God. 

When,  therefore,  the  Child  was  brought  into  the 
Temple  the  Spirit  of  God  made  known  to  Simeon 
that  this  Child  was  the  Messias  he  expected;  the 
promised  Redeemer,  who  was  to  save  all  men. 

Simeon  took  the  Child  Jesus  in  his  arms,  and  with 
great  joy  began  to  glorify  God,  saying: 

"Now  thou  dost  dismiss  thy  servant  in  peace, 
O  Lord,  according  to  thy  word,  because  my  eyes 
have  seen  thy  salvation  which  thou  hast  prepared 
before  the  face  of  all  thy  people." 

While  Simeon  continued  thus  praising  God,  and 
saying  sublime  things  of  the  Child  and  of  his  mother, 
an  old  woman  named  Anna,  who  was  a  prophetess, 
a  widow  of  eighty-four  years  of  age,  entered  the 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     23 

Temple,  and  she  too  began  to  praise  the  Lord  and 
to  speak  of  the  Child  Jesus  as  the  one  whose  coming 
the  Jews  had  long  looked  for  to  deliver  them  from 
the  power  of  the  evil  one. 

Louis:  And  how  did  Simeon  know  that  Jesus 
was  the  Messias? 

Grandma:  It  was  told  to  him  by  the  Holy  Ghost 
speaking  within   him  without   words. 

Jack:  How  could  Simeon  understand  when  the 
Holy  Ghost  spoke  without  words? 

Grandma:  It  is  possible  for  the  Holy  Ghost,  the 
Spirit  of  God,  who  is  God  equal  to  the  Father  and 
the  Son,  to  make  himself  understood  to  a  soul  with- 
out use  of  words,  as  it  is  possible  to  you,  for  instance, 
to  think  of  your  father  and  mother  when  absent 
from  them,  and  to  recall  the  words  they  have 
spoken  to  you .  However,  for  us,  to  whom  God  has  not 
granted  such  favors,  it  is  not  easy  to  understand 
what  passes  between  God  and  the  souls  of  his  saints. 

After  the  Presentation  in  the  Temple  Mary  and 
Joseph  returned  to  Bethlehem  with  the  Child  Jesus. 

One  night,  as  Joseph  was  sleeping,  an  angel 
appeared  to  him  and  said:  "Arise,  take  the  Child 
and  his  mother,  and  fly  into  Egypt;  and  be  there 
until  I  shall  tell  thee.  For  it  will  come  to  pass  that 
Herod  will  seek  the  Child  to  destroy  him."  And 
Joseph  rose  at  once  and  woke  Mary  and  told  her  the 
message  of  the  angel,  and  they  made  ready  and  set 
out   immediately   for    Egypt. 


24     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Jack:     How  did  they  travel  without  a  carriage? 

Grandma:  Tradition  tells  us  they  journeyed  with 
an  ass.  Joseph  seated  Mary  on  the  donkey  with  the 
Child  Jesus  in  her  arms,  and  he  walked  beside  them 
leading  the  donkey.  Thus  they  fled  to  Egypt  in  the 
darkness  of  the  night,  so  that  no  human  eye  could 
see  them  or  human  tongue  tell  Herod  which  way 
they  had  gone. 

Jack:  But  why,  grandma,  as  the  Child  Jesus 
was  the  Son  of  God,  did  he  not  order  that  Herod  be 
put  to  death? 

Grandma:  Because  Jesus  did  not  come  on  earth 
to  destroy  the  wicked,  but  to  convert  them,  and, 
moreover,  he  wished  to  suffer  all  these  trails  for  love 
of  us,  to  teach  us  to  bear  patiently  our  burdens  in 
this  life. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     25 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  MASSACRE  OF  THE  INNOCENTS. 

Herod  still  waited  for  the  returnof  the  Wise  Men, 
and  finally,  when  he  gave  up  hope  of  seeing  them 
again,  he  grew  very  angry,  for  he  realized  that, 
without  their  aid,  he  could  not  find  the  Child-king, 
whose  birth  the  Magi  had  announced  to  him,  and 
whose  coming  he  greatly  feared  would  deprive  him 
of  his  kingdom.  He  had  determined  to  put  this 
Child  to  death,  but  how  could  he  accomplish  this 
evil  deed,  not  knowing  where  he  dwelt? 

Therefore,  he  resolved  to  kill  all  children  aged  two 
years  and  under,  feeling  sure  that  the  Child  Jesus 
would  be  among  the  children  of  that  age.  So  this 
cruel  king  ordered  his  soldiers,  who  were  as  wicked 
as  he,  to  go  to  Bethlehem  sword  in  hand  and  massacre 
all  children  of  tender  years. 

Louis:  What  a  horrible  man!  How  terrible! 
The  poor  parents  must  have  cried  as  much  as  their 
little  ones. 

Grandma:  They  certainly  did,  and  I  must  tell 
you  that  a  long  time  before  this  event  happened  a 
prophet  named  Jeremias — 

Louis :     And  what  is  a  prophet  ? 


26     THE  CHILDREN'vS  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Grandma:  A  prophet  is  a  man  to  whom  God 
gives  the  gift  of  being  able  to  know  and  tell  before- 
hand things  that  will  happen. 

Louis:  What — he  can  tell  what  has  not  yet 
happened  ? 

Henrietta:  It  is  as  if  the  good  Lord  gave  me  this 
gift  and  I  should  know  beforehand  and  say  to  you: 
To-night  you  will  be  naughty  and  to-morrow  you 
will  be  punished,  and  in  ten  years  you  will  die;  and 
then,  if  it  all  happened,  I  would  be  a  prophet.  Is 
that  not  so,  grandma? 

Grandma  (smiling):  No;  in  that  case  you  would 
be  a  prophetess.  Fortunately  you  are  not  one,  as 
your  prophecies  would  not  be  very  agreeable  to 
Louis;  but  I  see  you  understand  what  a  prophet  is, 
and  you  have  explained  it  very  well.  The  prophets, 
however,  predicted  only  what  concerned  the  glory 
of  God  and  the  good  of  mankind.  I  was  about  to 
tell  you  that  a  prophet,  named  Jeremias,  had  pre- 
dicted this  calamity,  this  horrible  crime,  w^hich  is 
called:  "The  Massacre  of  the  Innocents."  He 
had  foretold  that  in  that  day  there  would  be  "lamen- 
tations and  great  mourning." 

You  can  picture  this  sad  scene:  little  children 
torn  from  the  protecting  arms  of  their  mothers,  who 
were  running  hither  and  thither  striving  in  vain  to 
save  their  precious  babies  from  the  cruel  soldiers, 
who  put  them  to  death  by  the  sword.  Thus  perished 
in    one   day  many  children  in  Bethlehem  and  the 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      27 

surrounding  country.  These  little  innocents  were 
the  first  martyrs,  the  first  to  give  their  life  for  Christ, 
and  we  celebrate  their  feast  after  Christmas,  on 
December  the  twenty-eighth. 

After  Joseph  and  Mary  and  the  Child  Jesus  had 
remained  some  time  in  Egypt,  an  angel  appeared 
to  Joseph  in  his  sleep  and  said  to  him:  "Arise  and 
take  the  Child  and  his  mother  and  go  into  the  land 
of  Israel,  for  they  are  dead  that  sought  the  life  of 
the  Child." 

Jack:     Did  Herod  repent  before  he  died ? 

Grandma:  No;  he  died,  as  he  had  lived,  a  wicked 
king. 

Joseph,  who  never  hesitated  for  a  moment  to 
obey  the  commands  of  God,  took  the  Child  and  his 
mother  and  set  out  at  once  for  Judea.  On  the 
journey  he  learnt  that  Archelaus,  son  of  Herod,  had 
been  made  king  at  his  father's  death;  and  being 
afraid,  Joseph  retired  into  the  province  of  Galilee, 
to  a  city  called  Nazareth.  That  Jesus  should  live 
in  Nazareth  had  also  been  predicted  by  the  prophets. 

And  now,  children,  I  shall  tell  you  how  the  Child 
Jesus  was  lost  in  Jerusalem. 

Paul:    Why,  who  lost  the  Child  Jesus? 

Grandma:  I  shall  tell  you  of  this  the  next  time 
we  meet. 


28      THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  IX. 

jEST^S  AMONG  THE  DOCTORS. 

The  Child  Jesus  Hved  in  Nazareth  with  his  mother 
and  his  foster-father,  St.  Joseph.  As  he  grew  older 
he  worked  with  his  father,  who  earned  his  livelihood 
as  a  carpenter,  for  the  Holy  Family  was  poor.  All 
who  knew  the  Child  Jesus  admired  his  wisdom, 
goodness,  and  gentleness. 

Every  year  at  the  Feast  of  the  Pascli — 

J  oh  n :     What  was  the  Feast  of  the  Pasch  ? 

Grandma:  The  Feast  of  the  Pasch,  or  Passover, 
was  the  celebration  by  the  Jewish  people  of  their 
passage  over  the  Red  Sea,  when  the  Lord  had 
delivered  them  from  the  Egyptian  bondage. 

Louis:     How  was  the  feast  celebrated? 

(irandma:  Each  family  killed  a  kid  or  a  lamb, 
which  was  roasted  whole  and  eaten  with  great 
ceremony  at  a  family  feast,  to  which  all  the  relatives 
were  invited.  They  ate  standing  and  in  traveling 
garb,  staff  in  hand,  to  remind  them  of  their  long 
joumeyings  when  God  had  led  them  from  their 
captivity  in  Egypt  to  the  promised  land. 

The  feast  of  the  Passover  lasted  seven  days. 
Every  year  Mary  and  Joseph  went  to  Jerusalem  to 


Christ  Among  the  Doctors 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      29 

celebrate  this  feast.  When  the  Child  Jesus  had 
reached  his  twelfth  year  he  accompanied  his  parents, 
as  prescribed  by  the  Jewish  law.  This  initation  of  a 
child  to  the  ceremonies  of  the  Passover  was  regarded 
as  an  event  in  the  family  life.  When  the  feast  was 
over  the  visitors  who  had  gathered  in  Jerusalem 
departed  in  family  groups  or  caravans,  each  to  his 
own  home.  Mary  and  Joseph  set  out  with  their 
friends  and  relations  and  did  not  perceive  that 
Jesus  was  not  with  them,  or  perhaps  they  thought 
him  in  the  company  of  his  young  companions,  and 
his  absence  passed  unnoticed  till  the  band  stopped 
at  eventide  for  refreshment  and  rest. 

Not  finding  the  Child  Jesus  in  their  company  they 
searched  anxiously  for  him  among  the  crowd  of 
wayfarers,  and  retracing  their  steps  to  Jerusalem 
inquired  eagerly  of  all  the  travelers  they  met.  For 
three  days  and  nights,  neither  eating  nor  drinking, 
Mary  and  Joseph  continued  their  search,  sorrowfully; 
but  the  Child  Jesus  was  not  to  be  found. 

Finally  they  entered  the  Temple  and  there  they 
found  the  Child,  "sitting  in  the  midst  of  the  doctors, 
hearing  them  and  asking  them  questions,"  and  ex- 
plaining to  them  obscure  passages  of  the  sacred 
writings  so  clearly  that  the  Doctors  of  the  Law  "and 
all  that  heard  him  were  astonished  at  his  wisdom  and 
his  answers." 

Mary  and  Joseph  were  much  surprised  at  what 
they  saw  and  heard,  and  his  mother,  approaching 


30     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

her  Son,  said  to  him :  "Son,  why  hast  thou  done  so  to 
us?  behold  thy  father  and  I  have  sought  thee  sorrow- 
ing." Jesus  answered  gravely:  "How  is  it  that 
you  sought  me?  did  you  not  know  that  I  must  be 
about  my  Father's  business?"  "And  they  under- 
stood not  the  words  that  he  spoke  to  them,"  They 
did  not  know  that  the  business  which  already 
occupied  this  Divine  Child  was  to  make  men  believe 
and  understand  that  he,  Jesus,  was  the  Son  of  God, 
the  Christ,  the  Messias  expected  by  the  Jewish  na- 
tion. None  the  less  Jesus,  rising,  followed  his 
parents,  for  if  in  divine  matters  he  obeyed  his 
heavenly  Father,  in  all  else  he  obeyed  implicity  his 
mother,  Mary,  and  St.  Joseph. 

They  returned  to  Nazareth,  where  they  lived  and 
where  St.  Joseph  died,  and  the  Child  Jesus  grew  "and 
advanced  in  wisdom  and  age  and  grace  with  God 
and  man."  "And  his  mother  kept  all  these  words 
in  her  heart."  She  kept  in  her  memory  all  the 
words  and  actions  of  Jesus. 

From  his  twelfth  to  his  thirtieth  year  our  Lord 
did  naught  but  obey,  work,  and  pray;  thus  becom- 
ing a  living  example  for  all  Christians,  and  most 
especially  for  all  children  and  young  people. 

What  child  is  there  who  will  dare  refuse  to  obey 
and  to  work,  when  the  Son  of  God  himself  has  left 
us  such  an  example? 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     31 

St.  Joseph  died  peacefully  in  the  arms  of  Jesus  and 
Mary,  and  for  this  reason  he  has  always  been  re- 
garded as  the  patron  of  the  dying 


32     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


BOOK  SECOND 

First  Year  of  the  Ministry  of  Jesus 

CHAPTER  X. 

ST.    JOHN    THE    BAPTIST.       BAPTISM    OF    CHRIST. 

Grandma:  No  doubt,  my  children,  you  remember 
that  John  the  Baptist  lived  in  the  desert  preparing 
for  his  mission  of  Precursor  of  Christ.  He  increased 
in  sanctity  as  he  grew  older.  He  prayed  unceasingly, 
and  led  a  very  penitential  life,  his  food  being  of 
locusts  and  wild  honey  and  his  garments  of  camel's 
hair.  At  about  thirty  years  of  age  he  came  out  of 
the  desert  and  began  to  preach.  He  spoke  eloquently 
of  God,  of  the  reward  of  heaven,  and  the  punish- 
ment of  hell,  and  of  the  necessity  of  doing  penance, 
and  everywhere,  in  all  the  country  round  about  the 
Jordan,  he  announced  to  all  men  the  coming  of  the 
Savior. 

Many  flocked  to  hear  John,  and  he  taught  them 
to  repent  of  their  sins,  and  he  baptized  in  the  Jordan 
all  who  confessed  their  sins  and  asked  for  baptism. 

Louis:  What  is  the  Jordan;  and  how  did  John 
baptize. 

Grandma:  The  Jordan  is  a  river  which  flows  a 
few  miles  from  Jerusalem.  Those  who  wished  to  be 
baptized  went  down  into  the  Jordan  a  few  feet  from 
the  shore  and  John  baptized    them  by  pouring  on 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     33 

their  heads  water  from  this  stream.  This  he  did 
to  show  the  purity  of  heart  which  should  be  theirs- 

The  people  surrounded  John  the  Baptist  and 
asked  of  him  guidance  and  advice.  To  the  rich  he 
said:  He  that  hath  two  coats,  let  him  give  to  him 
that  hath  none;  and  he  that  hath  meat,  let  him  do 
in  like  manner."  And  to  the  Publicans  who  came 
to  ask  what  they  should  do,  he  said;  "Do  nothing 
more  than  that  which  is  appointed  you." 

Henrietta:  Who  are  the  "Publicans;"  and  what 
was  appointed  them  to  do? 

Grandma:  The  Publicans  were  men  employed 
by  the  Romans — who,  as  you  know,  were  the  rulers 
of  Judea  and  of  the  Jews — to  collect  the  taxes ;  that 
is,  the  money  every  one  was  obliged  to  pay  for  the 
support  of  the  roads,  bridges,  and  highways.  More- 
over, a  portion  of  this  money  was  sent  to  Rome  for 
the  use  of  the  Emperor. 

Often  these  Publicans  demanded  of  the  people 
more  than  was  due,  and  consequently  the  Jews  hated 
them  and  called  them  thieves,  and  John  was  re- 
proving them  for  imposing  on  the  people  these 
unjust  taxes. 

To  the  soldiers,  who  also  asked  his  good  counsel, 
he  said.  "Do  violence  to  no  man,  neither  ca- 
lumniate any  man,  and  be  content  with  your  pay." 

The  people  who  heard  John  found  in  him  so  much 
virtue,  goodness,  and  wisdom  that  they  took  him 
to  be  the  Christ,  the  promised  Messias,  whose  coming 


34      TIIK  CHILDREN'vS  LIFE  OF  CMRLST 

was  expected  at  this  lime  as  announced  l)y  the 
prophets;  but  John  said:  "There  cometh  after  me 
one  mightier  than  I,  the  latchet  of  whose  shoe  I  am 
not  worthy  to  stoop  down  and  loose.  I  have  bap- 
tized you  with  water,  but  he  shall  baptize  you  with 
the    Holy    Ghost." 

King  Herod,  the  son  of  the  former  Herod,  who  had 
succeeded  his  brother  ArcheJaus,  wished  to  know 
John  and  to  hear  him  speak ;  but  instead  of  flattering 
the  vanity  of  the  king,  and  praising  him,  John  re- 
proved him  for  the  wicked  life  he  was  leading.  This 
angered  Herod,  but  he  dared  not  harm  John,  for 
he  feared  him  by  reason  of  his  sanctity  and  also 
because  of  the  great  esteem  in  which  the  people  held 
him. 

About  this  time,  after  the  death  of  Joseph,  Jesus 
left  Nazareth,  and  sought  John  on  the  banks  of  the 
Jordan  to  be  baptized  by  him.  Jolm,  who  knew 
that  Jesus  was  the  Son  of  God,  the  Second  Person 
of  the  Blessed  Trinity,  refused,  out  of  reverence,  to 
baptize  him:  "I  ought  to  be  baptized  by  thee,  and 
comest  thou  to  me  ? ' '  John  said ;  and  Jesus  answered : 
"Suffer  it  to  be  so  now,  for  so  it  becometh  us  to 
fulfill  all  justice." 

Then  John  refused  no  longer,  and  pouring  water 
on  the  head  of  Jesus  he  baptized  him. 

As  Jesus  came  out  of  the  water,  suddenly  the 
heavens  were  opened  and  the  Holy  Ghost  descended 
in  the  form  of  a  dove  and  rested  on  his  head,  and  a 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     35 

voice  from  heaven  said:  "This  is  my  beloved  Son 
in  whom  I  am  well  pleased." 

Henrietta :     Whose  voice  was  this ? 

Grandma:  This  was  the  voice  of  God  the  Father, 
who  thus  announced  to  the  world  that  Jesus  Christ 
was  truly  his  only  Son,  both  God  and  man. 

Jack:  How  old  was  otu*  Lord  when  he  wa-«: 
baptized? 

Grandma:  About  thirty  years  of  age.  He  had 
left  Nazareth  and  was  about  to  start  on  his  journey- 
ings  through  Judea,  in  order  to  show  himself  to  the 
world  and  to  instruct  men  in  the  true  law  which 
leads  to  salvation. 


36     THK  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XI. 

JESUS  IN  THE  DESERT.      THE  TEMPTATION. 

Before  instructing  the  Jews  and  revealing  to  them 
that  he  was  truly  the  incarnate  Son  of  God,  our 
Lord  wished  to  give  us  an  example  of  mortification 
and  penance. 

Louise:     What   does   that    mean — mortification? 

Grandma:  To  mortify  means  to  deny  ourselves, 
to  punish  ourselves. 

Louise:  And  why  should  we  punish  our  bodies? 
What  wrong  has  my  body  done?  It  seems  to  me 
it  only  obeys  my  wishes. 

Grandma:  You  are  mistoken.  Your  body  has 
evil  inclinations  which  lead  you  to  desire  things 
forbidden  by  God;  such  as  laziness,  gluttony,  anger, 
and  other  evil  tendencies.  It  is  just,  therefore,  to 
do  penance;  to  deny  and  to  punish  the  body  which 
so  frequently  leads  us  into  sin. 

Henrietta:     And  supposed  I    don't  do    penance. 

Grandma:  If  we  don't  do  penance,  the  good 
Lord  will  punish  us  after  death,  and  more  severely 
than  we  ourselves  would  have  done.  Therefore,  it 
is  wiser  to  mortify  ourselves  while  we  live  that  we 
may  not  remain  long  in  Purgatory,  where  we  expiate 


Temptation  of  Christ 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  (3F  CHRIST      37 

the  sins  for  which  we  have  not  atoned  in  this  world. 
On  the  other  hand,  if  at  our  death  our  Lord  finds 
in  us  no  sins  unpunished,  none  for  which  we  have  not 
atoned,  he  bids  us  at  once  to  enter  into  the  joys  of 
heaven,  with  the  Blessed  Virgin,  the  angels,  and 
saints,  and  to  rejoice  with  them  forever. 

As  I  was  saying,  Jesus  wished  to  give  us  an  ex- 
ample of  mortification;  for  this  purpose  he  with- 
drew into  the  desert. 

Louis:      Was  it  the  same  desert  where  John  lived? 

Grandma:  Yes;  the  same,  but  not  the  same  part, 
and,  moreover,  John  had  left  the  desert  about  a  year 
previously. 

Mary:  Where  was  John  when  Jesus  went  into 
the  desert? 

Grandma:  He  was  journeying  from  place  to 
place  through  Judea  and  Galilee,  proclaiming  the 
advent  of  the  Messias,  in  order  that  Jesus  might  find 
the  people  prepared  to  recognize  and  adore  the 
Savior.  Jesus  went  into  the  desert  alone,  and 
remained  there  fasting  for  forty  days. 

Henrietta:  Why,  Grandma,  that  is  impossible; 
he  would  have  died  of  hunger! 

Grandma:  If  our  Lord  had  been  a  man  such  as 
we  are,  he  would  certainly  have  died,  and  in  less 
time  than  forty  days;  but  do  not  forget  that  Jesus 
was  God  made  man,  and  that  he  could  and  willed 
to  suffer  to  an    extraordinary  degree  from   hunger 


38     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

and  from  thirst  to  expiate  our  sins  of  gluttony, 
sloth,   indolence,   and  sensuality. 

Jane:     What  is  sensuality ? 

Grandma:  It  is  the  love  of  all  that  is  agreeable 
to  the  body;  to  love  to  eat  well,  to  drink  well,  to  be 
always  comfortable ;  in  a  word,  to  love  our  own  ease 
and  to  be  unwilling  to  bear  any  discomfort. 

Henrietta:     But  I  see  no  harm  in  all  that. 

Grandma:  At  first  sight  this  does  not  seem 
wrong,  but  in  fact,  when  we  live  thus,  we  become 
indolent,  incapable  of  making  any  sacrifice  for  the 
sake  of  duty.  We  think  only  of  pleasures,  of  fun, 
and  of  spending  our  time  in  amusements.  We  for- 
get heaven,  we  forget  we  are  sinners  and  have  sins 
to  expiate.  In  fact,  we  risk  losing  our  souls,  as 
you  will  see  by  the  story  of  the  bad  rich    man. 

While  Jesus  was  in  the  desert,  the  devil,  who  was 
surprised  and  angry  that  he  had  never  been  able  to 
make  Jesus  commit  the  smallest  sin,  determined  to 
take  advantage  of  the  hunger  and  weakness  of  Jesus 
after  his  long  fast  and,  by  tempting  him,  lead  him 
into  some  fault.  He  approached  Jesus  and  promised 
him  food,  saying:  "If  you  are  the  Son  of  God, 
command  that  these  stones  be  made  bread." 

Jesus  answered  Satan,  saying:  "It  is  written, 
not  in  bread  alone  doth  man  live,  but  in  every  word 
that  proceedeth  from  the  mouth  of  God." 

The  devil,  seeing  he  was  repulsed,  and  in  doubt 
as  to  whether  this  Jesus  was  the  promised  Messias 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     39 

who  was  to  deliver  men  from  his  evil  power,  tried 
another  means  to  discover  if  Jesus  was  man  or  God. 
He  took  him  to  the  city  of  Jerusalem  and  placed  him 
on  the  pinnacle  of  the  Temple.  Then  he  said  to  him: 
"If  thou  be  the  Son  of  God,  cast  thyself  down,  for 
it  is  written:  That  he  hath  given  his  angels  charge 
over  thee,  and  in  their  hands  shall  they  bear  thee 
up,  lest,  perhaps,  thou  dash  thy  foot  against  a  stone." 

Jesus  said  to  him:  "It  is  written:  Thou  shalt 
not  tempt  the  Lord  thy  God." 

The  devil,  again  overcome  by  the  wisdom  of  the 
answers  of  Jesus,  tried  a  third  time  to  tempt  him. 
He  transported  him  to  the  top  of  a  tall  mountain, 
whence  he  showed  him  in  an  instant  all  the  empires 
of  the  world  and  their  glory,  and  said  to  him:  "All 
these  will  I  give  thee  if,  falling  down,  thou  wilt 
adore  me." 

Then  Jesus  said  to  him:  "Begone,  Satan,  for  it  is 
written:  The  Lord  thy  God  shalt  thou  adore,  and 
him  only  shalt  thou  serve." 

Then  the  devil,  ashamed  and  baffled,  withdrew, 
and  the  angels  approached  Jesus  and  served  him. 

Paul:  How  glad  I  am  that  the  devil  left  Jesus, 
but  how  did  the  angels  serve  him? 

Grandma:  They  brought  him  food  to  eat,  as  far 
superior  to  what  we  eat  in  this  world  as  Jesus  him- 
self was  superior  to  all  men  and  to  the  angels. 


40     THE  CHILDREN'S  UFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XH. 

THE     TESTIMONY     OF     JOHN.      THE     FIRST     DISCIPLES 

OF  JESUS. 

While  Jesus  was  sustaining  the  struggle  in  the 
desert,  John  the  Baptist  continued  preaching 
and  baptizing  along  the  banks  of  the  Jordan. 
Rumors  reached  Jerusalem  that  an  extraordinary 
man  had  appeared,  and  the  question  arose  among 
the  Jews  whether  John  might  not  be  the  Messias. 
Priests  and  Levites  were,  therefore,  sent  to  question 
him. 

Paul:     Who  were  the  Levites? 

Grandma:  The  Levites  assisted  the  priests  in 
the  ceremonies  of  the  Temple.  They  were  below 
the  priests  in  rank,  as  a  lieutenant  is  below  a  captain, 
although  both  are  officers.  They  came,  therefore, 
to  John,  questioning  him  if  he  were  the  Christ. 
And  he  answered:  "I  am  not  the  Christ;"  and  they 
asked  him:  "What  then?  Art  thou  Elias?"  And 
he  said:  "I  am  not."  "Art  thou  the  prophet?" 
And  he  answered:  "No."  They  said  therefore  to 
him:  "Who  art  thou,  that  we  may  give  an  answer 
to  them  that  sent  ns  ?     What  sayest  thou  of  thyself?" 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     41 

John  answered:  "I  am  the  voice  of  one  crying 
in  the  wilderness ;  make  straight  the  way  of  the  Lord. " 

Thus  John  explained  to  them  his  mission  of 
Precursor.  They  questioned  him  further  as  to 
why  he  baptized,  since  he  was  not  the  Christ,  nor 
EHas,  nor  the  prophet.  John  answered:  "I  bap- 
tize with  w^ater,  but  there  hath  stood  one  in  the 
midst  of  3^ou  whom  you  know  not;  the  latchet  of 
whose  shoe  I  am  not  worthy  to  loose.  I  saw  the 
Spirit  coming  as  a  dove  from  heaven,  and  he  re- 
mained upon  him;  he  it  is  that  baptizeth  with  the 
Holy  Ghost.  .  .  I  saw  and  I  gave  testimony 
that  this  is  the  Son  of  God. " 

The  following  day  John  was  walking  with  two  of 
his  disciples  and  Jesus  passed  by. 

Louise:     What  are  disciples? 

Grandma:  Disciples  are  scholars,  friends,  those 
who  believe  in  the  wisdom  of  a  master  and  who 
follow  him,  and  who  endeavor  to  make  others  be- 
lieve in  his  doctrine,  that  he  may  have  many  followers. 
When  John  saw  Jesus  he  said:  "Behold  the  Lamb 
of  God."  His  two  disciples  hearing  this  left  John 
and  followed  Jesus;  and  Jesus,  turning  and  seeing 
them  following  him,  said  to  them:  "What  seek 
you  ?"  "Master,  where  dwellest  thou  ?"  they  asked, 
Jesus  replied:  "Come  and  see,"  and  they  folio  wed  our 
Lord  to  his  dwelHng  and  remained  with  him  all  that 
day.  One  of  these  first  two  disciples  was  St.  John, 
who  became  the  beloved  friend  of  Jesus,  and  who 


42     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

wrote  one  of  the  four  Gospels,  or,  as  they  are  some- 
times called  Evangels,  and  he  is  therefore  called 
John  the  Evangelist.     The  other  was  St.  Andrew, 

After  this  long  conversation  with  our  Lord 
Andrew  met  his  brother  Simon,  a  fisherman  like 
himself,  and  he  said  to  him;  "We  have  found  the 
Messias;"  and  he  brought  him  to  Jesus,  and  Jesus 
looking  upon  him  said:  "Thou  art  Simon,  the  Son 
of  Jonas;  thou  shalt  be  called  Peter."  This  was  the 
Apostle  St.  Peter,  who  was  to  be  Head  of  the  church. 

The  next  day  Jesus  met  Philip  and  he  said  to  him: 
"Follow  me!"  Philip  was  from  Bethsaida,  a  city 
in  Galilee,  and  he  followed  Jesus  with  gladness, 
for  he  had  often  heard  of  Christ  from  John  the 
Baptist. 

As  they  journeyed  on  Philip  met  his  friend 
Nathaniel,  who  was  a  scribe  or  Doctor  of  the  Law, 
that  is  to  say,  one  well  versed  in  the  law  of  the 
Jewish  people,  and  he  said  to  him:  "We  have  found 
him  of  whom  Moses  in  the  law  and  the  prophets 
did  write,  Jesus  the  Son  of  Joseph  of  Nazareth." 
And  Nathaniel  said  to  him:  "Can  anything  good 
come  from  Nazareth?"  Philip's  only  reply  was  in 
the  words  our  Lord  had  addressed  to  him:  "Come 
and  see!" 

Louis:  Why  did  Nathaniel  say  that  about 
Nazareth  ? 

Grandma:  Because  it  was  the  opinion  of  tne 
learned  men  of  Jerusalem  that  no  prophet  would 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      43 

come  from  the  obscure  town  of  Nazareth;  and, 
moreover,  Nathaniel  knew  that  the  Messias  was  to  be 
bom  in  Bethlehem,  and  thinking  that  Nazareth  was 
the  birthplace  as  well  as  the  home  of  Jesus,  he 
judged  he  could  not  be  the  Messias  as  Philip  an- 
nounced. However,  Nathaniel  followed  Philip  and 
went  to  the  Savior. 

When  Jesus  saw  Nathaniel  coming  he  said  of  him : 
"Behold  an  Israelite  indeed  in  whom  there  is  no 
guile."  Nathaniel,  greately  surprised  that  Jesus 
should  know  him,  asked:  "Whence  knowest  thou 
me?"  Jesus  answered:  "Before  that  Philip  called 
thee,  when  thou  wast  under  the  fig  tree,  I  saw  thee." 
Now,  Nathaniel  knew  that  Jesus  could  not  have 
seen  him  except  by  a  miraculous  power  at  the 
distance  referred  to;  he  therefore  recognized  Jesus 
at  once  as  the  Lord,  and  exclaimed  with  admiration : 
"Thou  art  the  Son  of  God;  thou  art  the  King  of 
Israel!"  Jesus  answered  and  said  to  him:  "Be- 
cause I  said  unto  thee:  I  saw  thee  under  the  fig 
tree,  thou  belie  vest;  greater  things  than  these  shalt 
thou  see ;  .  .  .  thou  shalt  see  the  heaven  opened 
and  the  angels  of  God  ascending  and  descending 
upon  the  Son  of  Man." 

Mary:  Why  does  our  Lord  say:  "The  Son  of 
Man?"     Who  was  the  Son  of  Man? 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  often  spoke  of  himself  as 
the  Son  of  Man.  First,  in  order  to  teach  us  humility, 
by  reminding  us  that  God  had  so  lowered  himself 


44     THE  CHIJLDRHN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

as  to  become  man,  and  also  to  remind  us  that  he  was 
as  truly  man  as  he  was  truly  God.  To  believe  in 
Christ  Jesus,  is  to  believe  that  the  Son  of  Man  is  the 
Son  of  God.     It  is  to  adore  God  made  Man. 

This  Nathaniel,  whom  Philip  brought  to  Jesus, 
is  known  as  the  Apostle  Bartholomew. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      45 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE  MARRIAGE  FEAST  AT  CANA. 

Three  days  after  our  Lord  and  his  disciples 
journeyed  on  to  Cana,  a  little  town  in  Galilee,  to  a 
wedding  feast,  to  which  he  and  his  mother  had  been 
invited.  Towards  the  end  of  the  feast  the  wine 
gave  out.  The  head  steward  told  Mary,  and  she 
approached  her  Son  and  said  to  him:  "They  have 
no  wine;"  and  Jesus  answered :  "Woman,  what  is 
it  to  me  and  to  thee?     My  hour  is  not  yet  come." 

Henrietta:  Why  did  our  Lord  address  his  mother 
as  woman  and  answer  her  thus? 

Grandma:  This  answer  was  not  a  reproach,  but 
remember  that  in  Jesus  there  were  two  different 
natures.  Jesus  was  the  Son  of  God  before  being  the 
Son  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary;  he  was  God  made 
Man. 

As  her  Son,  Jesus  was  obedient  to  Mary's  every 
wish;  but  as  God  he  only  obeyed  the  dictates  and 
guidance  of  his  Heavenly  Father;  and  up  to  this 
time  he  had  performed  no  miracles  in  public;  as  he 
said:     "My  hour  is  not  yet  come." 

However,  at  his  mother's  request,  Jesus  performed 
his  first  miracle.     The  Blessed  Mother  was  so  certain 


4r)     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

of  the  consent  of  her  Son  that,  untroubled  by  his 
reply,  she  turned  to  the  steward  and  waiters  and 
said  to  them:  "Whatsoever  he  shall  say  to  you, 
do  ye."  There  were  standing  there  six  waterjars 
of  stone  to  be  filled,  which  would  serve  for  the 
ablutions  or  purification  of  the  Jews. 

Henrietta:     What  are  purifications? 

Grandma:  It  was  the  custom  of  the  Jews  to 
wash  mouth  and  hands  before  meals  and  after 
meals,  and  their  feet  as  they  came  in,  and  even  the 
feet  of  strangers  and  guests  who  entered  a  house. 
Therefore,  standing  ready  were  six  jars.  Jesus  said 
to  the  waiters:  "Fill  the  water  pots  with  water." 
And  they  filled  them  up  to  the  brim.  And  Jesus 
saith  to  them:  "Draw  out  now,  and  carry  to  the 
chief  steward  of  the  feast."  And  they  carried  to 
him  what  they  had  drawn.  When  the  steward 
tasted  this  water  made  wine,  not  knowing  whence 
this  delicious  wine  had  come,  he  went  to  the  bride- 
groom and  said  to  him:  "What  have  you  done? 
Every  man  at  first  setteth  forth  good  wine ;  and  when 
men  have  well  drunk,  then,  that  which  is  worse; 
but  thou  hast  kept  the  good  wine  until  now."  The 
master  of  the  house  could  not  understand  what  his 
steward  said  to  him,  because  he  did  not  know  of  the 
miracle  of  Jesus;  but  the  steward  and  waiters  who 
had  seen  the  miracle  told  every  one  what  they  had 
seen.  This  was  the  first  public  miracle  of  Jesus, 
and  it  increased  the  faith  of  his  disciples. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     47 

Henry:  Grandma,  why  do  you  say  "public 
miracle;"  had  Jesus  performed  miracles  privately? 

Grandma:  The  Gospels  do  not  speak  of  any,  but 
tradition  and  the  accounts  of  early  writers  lead  us  to 
believe  that  Jesus  had  performed  miracles  from  his 
birth,  before  he  manifested  his  power  to  the  world 
at  Cana  of  Galilee 


48     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  HUCKSTERS  DRIVEN  FROM  THE  TEMPLE 

As  the  Feast  of  the  Passover  was  drawning  near, 
Jesus  went  to  Jerusalem  for  its  celebration.  As  he 
entered  the  Temple  he  found,  In  the  court  of  the 
sacred  edifice,  merchants  selling  doves  and  lambs, 
and  money  changers  seated  at  their  tables  prepared 
to  change  silver  and  gold.  Indignant  at  this  pro- 
fanation of  his  Father's  house,  Jesus  made  a  whip  of 
cords  and  drove  out  the  buyers  and  sellers  from  the 
Temple,  and  he  overthrew  the  tables  of  the  money 
changers  and  spilt  their  money  on  the  floor;  and  he 
said:  "Take  these  things  hence,  and  make  not  the 
house  of  my  Father  a  house  of  traffic." 

The  Jews,  greatly  angered  at  this  action  of  Jesus, 
said  to  him:  "What  sign  dost  shou  show  unto  us, 
seeing  thou  dost  these  things?"  They  questioned 
his  right  to  exercise  such  authority.  Jesus  answered : 
"Destroy  this  temple,  and  in  three  days  I  will  raise 
it  up."  The  Jews  failed  to  understand  that  Jesus 
was  not  speaking  of  the  Temple  which  Solomon  had 
built,  but  of  the  temple  of  his  body  which  would  be 
rebuilt,  that  is,  would  be  resuscitated,  three  days 
after  the  Jews  would  have  put  him  to  death. 


Jesus  Expels  the  Hucksters  From  the  Temple 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      49 

After  his  resurrection  his  disciples  remembered 
these  words. 

While  Jesus  was  in  Jerusalem,  he  performed  many 
miracles,  and  many  believed  in  him;  but  Jesus,  who 
could  read  the  thoughts  of  men,  did  not  trust  them, 
for  he  knew  these  same  Jews  would  put  him  to  death 
most  cruelly  in  a  few  years.  Jesus  left  Jerusalem 
to  traverse  Judea,  where  he  remained  some  time 
baptizing  and  preaching.  John  the  Baptist  was 
also  baptizing,  but  on  the  other  side  of  the  Jordan. 
John's  disciples  grew  jealous  of  the  honor  paid  to 
Christ  and  sought  him  one  day  and  said  to  him: 
"Master,  he  that  was  with  thee  beyond  the  Jordan, 
to  whom  thou  gavest  testimony,  behold  he  bap- 
tizeth  and  all  men  come  to  him." 

John  answered  and  said:  "A  man  cannot  receive 
anything  unless  it  be  given  him  from  heaven.  You 
yourselves  do  bear  me  witness  that  I  said:  'I  am 
not  the  Christ,  but  that  I  am  sent  before  him;'  " 
and  John  went  on  in  a  beautiful  discourse,  telling 
them  that  he  was  only  the  servant  and  friend  of 
Jesus,  who  was  the  Lord  and  Master,  and  that  they 
must  follow  Jesus  and  leave  him,  and  that  if  they 
did  so  at  his  word,  he  would  rejoice  greatly,  for  he 
was   only   the   fore-runner   of  Christ,   the   Messias. 

Jesus,  knowing  that  the  Jews  and  Pharisees  were 
jealous  of  his  power  over  the  hearts  of  men  and  saw 
with  vexation  the  number  of  disciples  who  came  to 
him,  left  Judea  and  retired  into  Galilee. 


50     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE  SAMARITAN;  OR,  JESUS  AT  JACOB'S  WELL. 

In  order  to  reach  Galilee  Jesus  and  his  disciples 
had  to  pass  through  Samaria.  As  they  neared  the 
city  of  Sichem,  which  lay  surrounded  by  fertile  fields, 
tired  after  their  long  journey  on  foot,  they  stopped  to 
rest  near  Jacob's  well. 

Louise:     Why  was  it  called  Jacob's  well? 

Grandma:  Because  Jacob  had  dug  and  built 
this  well,  and  he  had  lived  nearby.  These  very 
fields  he  had  given  to  his  son,  Joseph,  who  was  sold  by 
his  brethern,  of  which  we  read  in  the  Old  Testament. 

While  his  disciples  went  into  the  city  to  buy 
provisions,  Jesus,  being  very  weary,  sat  on  the  edge 
of  the  well  to  rest.  A  woman  of  Samaria  approached 
to  draw  water  from  the  well,  and  Jesus  said  to  her: 
"Give  me  to  drink." 

The  woman  answered:  "How  dost  thou,  being 
a  Jew,  ask  of  me  to  drink,  who  am  a  Samaritan 
woman?"  This  she  said  because  there  was  great 
hatred  between  the  Jews  and  the  people  of  Samaria. 

Jesus  answered  and  said  to  her:  "If  thou  didst 
know  the  gift  of  God,  and  who  he  is  that  saith  to 
thee,  give  me  to  drink,  thou  perhaps  wouldst  have 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      51 

asked  of  him,  and  he  would  have  given  thee,  hving 
water." 

The  Smaritan  woman,  greatly  surprised,  said  to 
Jesus:  "Sir,  thou  hast  nothing  wherein  to  draw, 
and  the  well  is  deep;  from  whence,  then,  hast  thou 
living  water?  Art  thou  greater  than  our  father 
Jacob,  who  gave  us  this  well,  and  drank  thereof 
himself,  and  his  children,  and  his  cattle?" 

Jesus  answered  and  said  to  her:  "Whosoever 
drinketh  of  this  water,  shall  thirst  again;  but  he 
that  shall  drink  of  the  water  that  I  shall  give  him, 
shall    not    thirst    forever." 

The  Samaritan  woman,  perceiving  that  Jesus 
was  not  an  ordinary  man,  said  to  him:  "Sir,  give 
me  this  water,  that  I  may  not  thirst,  nor  come 
hither  to  draw." 

Jesus  said  to  her:  "Go,  call  thy  husband,  and 
come  hither." 

"I    have    no    husband,"    answered    the    woman. 

"Thou  hast  said  well,  I  have  no  husband," 
answered  our  Lord,  "for  thou  hast  five  husbands; 
and  he  whom  thou  now  hast,  is  not  thy  husband. 
This  thou  hast  said  truly." 

The  Samaritan  woman,  amazed  to  see  her  sins  thus 
known  and  laid  bare  by  Jesus,  said  to  him:  "Sir,  I 
perceive  thou  art  a  prophet.  ...  I  know  that 
the  Messias  cometh  (who  is  called  Christ) ;  therefore, 
when  he  is  come,  he  will  tell  us  all  things." 


52     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Jesus  saith  to  her:  "I  am  he  who  am  speaking 
with  thee." 

At  that  moment  the  disciples  returned  from  their 
errand  in  the  city,  and  were  surprised  to  find  Jesus 
talking  with  a  woman.  The  woman  left  there  her 
jar  of  water  and  went  in  great  haste  into  the  city 
and  told  the  people  of  her  meeting  with  Jesus. 
"Come,"  she  said,  "and  see  a  man  who  has  told  me 
all  things  whatsoever  I  have  done.  Is  he  not  the 
Christ?"     Many  followed  the  woman  to  Jacob's  well. 

In  the  meanwhile  his  disciples  urged  Jesus  to  eat 
what  they  had  brought.  "Master,  eat,"  they 
prayed  him;  but  he  said  to  them:  "I  have  meat  to 
eat,  which  you  know  not." 

The  disciples,  surprised,  said  to  one  another: 
"Hath  any  man  brought  him  to  eat?" 

Jesus,  who  knew  what  they  were  whispering,  said 
to  them:  "My  meat  is  to  do  the  will  of  him  that 
sent  me,  that  I  may  perfect  his  work." 

The  people  of  Samaria  believed  in  Jesus  on  the 
word  of  the  woman,  and  when  they  came  to  Jesus  they 
begged  him  to  remain  with  them.  He  consented 
to  their  appeal  and  remained  for  two  days ;  and  after 
hearing  him,  many  more  believed  in  him,  and  they 
said  to  the  woman:  "We  now  believe,  not  for  thy 
saying;  for  we  ourselves  have  heard  him  and  know 
that  this  is,  indeed,  the  Savior  of  the  world." 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      53 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

JESUS  TEACHES  IN  THE  SYNAGOGUE. 

Grandma:  After  two  days  spent  among  the 
Samaritans,  Jesus  resumed  his  joumeyings  to  preach 
in  GaUlee. 

At  this  time  Herod  imprisoned  John  the  Baptist, 
because  John  reproached  him  for  the  wicked  Hfe  he 
was  leading  and  for  the  many  evil  deeds  of  his  past 
life. 

The  first  city  of  Galilee  into  which  Jesus  entered 
was  the  City  of  Nazareth,  the  city  where  he  had 
lived  so  long  with  his  mother  and  Joseph.  On  the 
Sabbath  day  Jesus  entered  the  synagogue. 

Louis :     What  was  a  synagogue ? 

Grandma:  The  synagogue  was  like  our  church, 
a  house  of  prayer,  a  building  where  the  Jews  gathered 
on  the  Sabbath  day  to  worship  God  and  read  the 
Scriptures. 

Louis:     What  was  the  Sabbath  day? 

Grandma:  This  was  the  seventh  day  of  the  week, 
which  day  the  Jews  kept,  or  celebrated,  in  the  same 
manner  as  we  do  Sunday.  It  was  a  day  of  prayer 
and  rest. 


54     THE  CHILDREN'vS  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Grandma:  As  I  was  telling  you,  Jesus  entered 
the  synagogue  on  the  Sabbath  day,  and  taking  up 
one  of  the  books  of  the  Prophet  Isaias,  he  began 
to  read  to  the  assembled  people,  and  explain  to 
them  the  Scriptures  in  such  a  wonderful  manner  and 
with  such  clearness  that  all  gazed  upon  him  in 
surprise  and  admiration. 

When  he  had  finished  reading  and  explaining  they 
said  to  one  another:  "Is  not  this  the  son  of  Joseph, 
the  carpenter?"  And  they  wondered  greatly  at 
his  wisdom  and  his  knowledge.  But  when  Jesus 
began  to  speak  to  them  of  their  blindness  of  heart, 
and  to  reproach  them  because  they  did  not  believe 
in  him  who  had  lived  among  them,  they  grew  very 
angry,  and  rising  up  they  drove  Jesus  out  of  the 
synagogue  and  out  of  the  city  to  the  top  of  the 
mountain  on  which  their  town  was  built. 

They  thought  to  thrust  him  over  this  height  and 
kill  him,  but  Jesus  miraculousl}^  passed  through  the 
crowd  and  "went  on  his  way." 

Jack:  How  was  it  that  the  Jews  let  Jesus  escape 
when  they  wanted  to  kill  him  ? 

Grandma:  Because,  by  his  almighty  power,  our 
Lord  made  himself  invisible  to  the  angry  crowd 
around  him. 

Madeleine :  Why  did  they  not  believe  in  our  Lord, 
since  they  had  witnessed  his  many  miracles? 

Grandma:  Because  they  did  not  wish  to  believe. 
Their  pride  revolted  at  the  thought  that  they  would 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      55 

have  to  recognize  as  their  master  and  God,  a  poor 
carpenter,  without  fortune,  without  glory,  lacking 
in  all  that  they  expected  from  the  Messias.  The 
Messias,  they  thought,  would  help  them  to  conquer 
the  other  nations  of  the  earth,  and  make  them,  the 
Jews,  the  rulers  of  the  world. 

However,  there  were  some  faithful  ones  in  Nazareth 
who  believed  in  him. 


56     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

JESUS  HEALS  THE  SON  OF  THE  RULER. 

Grandma:  Leaving  the  ungrateful  City  of  Naza- 
reth, Jesus  proceeded  to  Capernaum,  where  he 
preached  to  the  people  penance  and  forgiveness  of 
sins,  and  announced  that  the  kingdom  of  heaven 
was  at  hand.  Leaving  Capernaum,  Jesus  journ- 
eyed to  a  city  near  by,  called  Cana  of  Galilee.  Here 
there  hastened  to  him  an  officer  whose  son  lay  ill 
at  Capernaum,  and  who,  learning  that  Jesus  had 
arrived  ;>'md  him  and  begged  him  to  cure  his  son, 
who  lay  ill  unto  death. 

In  answer  to  his  prayer,  Jesus  said:  "Unless 
you  see  signs  and  wonders,  you  believe  not." 

But  the  officer  besought  him  the  more  earnestly 
to  cure  his  beloved  son,  saying:  "Lord,  come  dovra 
before  my  poor  little  one  dies." 

Then  our  Lord,  pitying  his  sorrow,  said  to  him: 
"Go  thy  way;  thy  son  liveth."  The  man  believed 
the  word  which  Jesus  said  to  him,  and  went  his  way. 

The  next  day  as  the  officer  drew  near  his  home, 
the  servants  met  him  and  announced  to  him  that 
his  son  lived.     Immediatclv  he  asked  at  what  hour 


THE   CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     57 

the  boy   grew  better.     "Yesterday,"  they   replied, 
"at  the  seventh  hour  the  fever  left  him." 

The  father  knew,  then,  that  it  was  at  the  very 
same  hour  that  Jesus  had  said  to  him:  "Thy  son 
liveth;"and  he  believed  in  our  lyord,  he,  and  all  his 
household. 


58     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE   OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

JESUS  CALrLS  PETER  AND  ANDREW. 

Grandma:  Jesus  continued  journeying  in  Galilee, 
following  the  shores  of  the  sea. 

Henrietta:     On  what  sea  was  the  shore  of  Galilee? 

Grandma:  On  the  borders  of  the  Mediterranean, 
to  the  west,  but,  on  the  opposite  side,  to  the  east, 
lay  another  sea,  the  Lake  of  Tiberias.  This  lake 
was  so  large  that  it  was  called  the  sea  of  Galilee. 
It  was  on  the  shores  of  this  sea  that  Jesus  met  Simon, 
whom  he  afterwards  surnamed  Peter,  and  Andrew 
his  brother. 

These  men  were  casting  their  nets  in  the  sea,  for 
they  were  fishermen,  and  Jesus  said  to  them ;  "Follow 
me."  "And  they  immediately,  leaving  their  nets, 
followed  him;"  proving  thus  to  our  Lord,  by  their 
prompt  obedience  to  his  call,  that  they  believed  in 
him  and  were  eager  to  consecrate  to  him  their  time 
and  their  life. 

Going  a  little  further,  our  Lord  saw  in  a  boat 
James,  the  son  of  Zebedee,  and  John,  his  brother, 
mending  their  nets,  for  they,  too,  were  fishermen. 
Jesus  called  them,  and  at  once,  "leaving  their  nets 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     59 

and  their  father,  Zebedee,  in  the  ship  with  his  hired 
men,  they  followed  him." 

Jane :    And  they  left  their  father? 

Grandma:  They  left  their  father  to  obey  the  call 
of  their  Lord  and  Master  to  his  service.  They  should 
be  to  us  an  example  of  the  ready  and  prompt 
obedience  with  which  we  should  always  follow  the 
will  of  God. 


60     THJi  CHlLDiUiN'S  LIFK  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

JESUS  CURES  THE  DEMONIAC. 

Grandma:  In  the  company  of  his  disciples, 
Jesus  journeyed  to  Capernaum.  On  the  Sabbath 
day  he  taught  in  the  synagogue,  and  spoke  with  such 
power  and  wisdom  that  all  were  in  amazement  at 
his  teaching.  That  day  there  was  in  the  syna- 
gogue a  poor,  wretched  man  possessed  of  the  devil, 
who,  seeing  Jesus,  uttered  a  great  cry,  saying: 
"Let  us  alone;  what  have  we  to  do  with  thee,  Jesus 
of  Nazareth?  Art  thou  come  to  destroy  us?"  "I 
know  thee  who  Thou  art,  the  Holy  One  of  God." 

Jesus  threatened  the  devil,  who  spoke  through  the 
mouth  of  this  man,  and  said  to  him:  "Speak  no 
more,  and  go  out  of  the  man." 

And  the  evil  one,  having  throwm  the  man  upon  the 
ground,  went  out  of  him,  and  the  man  was  cured. 

Every  one  was  frightened  and  in  consternation, 
and  they  said  to  one  another:  "What  does  this 
mean;  he  commands  even  the  devils  and  they  obey 
him?"  And  the  fame  of  Jesus  spread  all  over  the 
country. 

Jesus  performed  many  other  miracles  in  Caper- 
naum.    Peter's  mother-in-law  was  ill  with  a  fever 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     61 

and  Jesus,  taking  her  by  the  hand,  commanded  the 
fever  to  leave  her.  She  rose  from  her  bed  cured,  and 
served  Jesus  and  his  disciples  their  noonday  meal. 

After  sunset,  in  the  cool  of  the  evening,  a  crowd 
of  sick  people  came,  or  were  brought  by  others,  to 
Jesus  to  be  cured  by  him;  "and  laying  his  hands 
on  every  one  of  them,  he  healed  them."  At  his 
word  of  command,  the  devils  left  those  whom  they 
possessed,  "crying  out:  .  .  .  Thou  art  the  Son 
of  God."  But  Jesus  forbid  the  evil  spirits  to  say 
he   was   the   Christ. 

Elizabeth:  What  does  that  mean,  to  be  possessed 
of  the  devil?     Does  it  mean  to  be  very  bad? 

Grandma:  No;  a  demoniac,  or  possessed  person, 
is  one  whose  body  is  in  the  possession  of  the  devil, 
who  rules  over  him  and  makes  him  do  evil  actions, 
against  his  will.  Such  a  person  is,  therefore,  not 
responsible. 

Henry:  Are  persons  possessed  of  the  devil 
nowdays? 

Grandma:  In  countries  where  our  Lord  is  known 
and  loved  it  is  very  rarely  seen. 


62     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  MIRACULOUS  DRAUGHT  OF  FISHES. 

Grandma:  The  next  day,  at  dawn,  Jesus  left  the 
house  and  went  to  a  desert  place,  where  he  was  in 
the  habit  of  praying  alone. 

Simon  and  his  other  disciples  found  our  Lord, 
where  he  had  withdrawn  to  pray,  and  said  to  him: 

"Every  one  is  looking  for  you."  And  Jesus 
answered:  "Let  us  go  into  the  neighboring  towns 
and  cities,  that  I  may  preach  there  also,  for  to  this 
purpose  am  I  come." 

Jesus  set  out,  therefore,  to  journey  through  Galilee, 
teaching  in  the  synagogues  and  preaching  the 
kingdom  of  God. 

Jack:     And  what  is  the  kingdom  of  God? 

Grandma:  The  kingdom  of  God  is  heaven,  where 
our  Lord  dwells  and  reigns;  but  it  is  also  the  human 
soul,  in  which  he  reigns  on  earth.  Thus  each 
separate  soul  is  his  kingdom  when  we,  his  creatures, 
lead  a  good  and  holy  life,  obedient  to  his  law. 

Our  Lord  taught  the  people  how  to  enter  into  this 
kingdom;  and  he  cured  their  sick  and  all  who  were 
afficted.  The  good  tidings  of  these  cures  soon  spread 
over  the  whole  of  Syria. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      63 

Valentine:  How  did  the  news  spread  in  Syria; 
I  thought  our  Lord  was  in  GaHlee? 

Grandma:  GaHlee  is  in  Palestine,  and  Syria  is 
north  of  Palestine,  quite  near.  In  a  short  time  all 
Syria  knew  the  miracles  of  Jesus,  and  they  brought 
to  him  their  sick  and  infirm,  those  who  were  possessed, 
who  were  paralyzed,  who  were  blind,  deaf,  and  dumb; 
and  he  cured  them  all.  A  great  multitude  of  people 
followed  him  wherever  he  went — people  from  Galilee 
and  the  neighboring  countries. 

One  day  on  the  shores  of  the  lake  of  Genesareth — 

Louis:     Where  was  the  lake  of  Genesareth? 

Grandma:  The  lake  of  Genesareth  was  the  same 
as  the  sea  of  Tiberias.  Genesareth,  like  Tiberias, 
was  a  town  built  on  the  shores  of  the  sea  of  Galilee, 
to  which  it  gave  its  name,  Tiberias.  Our  Lord  was 
walking  on  this  shore  surrounded  by  a  crowd  of 
people  who,  eager  to  hear  the  word  of  God,  so  pressed 
and  crowded  around  him  that,  seeing  two  boats 
anchored  nearby — ^which  the  fishermen  had  left  in 
order  to  mend  their  nets — ^Jesus  stepped  into  Simon 
Peter's  boat  and  begged  him  to  row  out  a  little  from 
the  shore.  And  sitting  in  the  boat  Jesus  taught  the 
people. 

When  he  had  finished  speaking,  our  Lord  said  to 
Simon:  "Push  out  into  deeper  water.  Cast  ovei 
your  nets  for  the  fish. ' ' 

"Master,  Simon  answered,  we  have  labored  all 
the  night  without  taking  anything,  but  at  your  word 


64     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

I  will  cast  the  net."  Simon  Peter  cast  his  nets,  and 
when  he  drew  them  up  they  were  so  heavy  and  full 
of  fishes  that  the  cords  of  the  nets  were  breaking. 
He  called  to  his  aid  the  men  in  the  neighboring  bark, 
and  when  they  drew  out  the  nets  and  landed  the 
fishes,  there  was  such  a  great  quantity  that  the  two 
barks  were  filled  to  overflowing  and  almost  sinking. 

Seeing  this  miracle,  Simon  Peter  threw  himself 
at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  saying:  "Depart  from  me,  O 
Lord,  for  I  am  a  sinful  man." 

Louis:  I  think  Simon  Peter  was  very  wrong  to 
speak  so  to  our  Lord,  who  had  been  so  good  to  him 
and  cured  his  mother-in-law. 

Madeleine:     Then  Simon  Peter  was  married? 

Grandma:  Yes;  Peter  was  married  and  had  a 
daughter  named  Petronilla ;  but  he  left  his  home  and 
family  to  follow  our  Lord.  As  to  what  Peter  said 
to  Jesus,  it  was  not  wrong,  as  little  Louis  thinks; 
on  the  contrary,  it  was  virtuous.  Peter  was  speaking 
through  humility.  This  miraculous  draught  of 
fishes  had  revealed  to  him,  more  than  any  miracle 
before  witnessed,  that  Jesus  Christ  was  God,  the 
Creator  of  all  things,  and  he  did  not  consider  himself 
worthy  to  receive  him  in  his  poor  fisherman's  bark. 
But  Jesus  said  to  him: 

"Be  not  afraid;  hereafter  you  shall  be  fishers  of 
men." 

Jack:  How  could  that  be;  we  don't  fish  for  men 
as  we  do  for  fish? 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     65 

At  this  the  children  and  even  Grandma  laughed. 

Grandma:  By  those  words  our  Lord  meant  that, 
instead  of  spending  his  time  in  casting  his  net  for 
fish,  Simon  Peter  was  to  devote  his  life  to  preaching 
and  teaching  the  people  what  they  should  believe 
and  know,  and  that  in  this  way  he  would  draw  men 
away  from  the  power  of  the  evil  one  to  give  them  tc 
the  service  of  God. 

Simon  Peter  and  James  and  John,  the  son  of 
Zebedee,  who  were  with  Simon,  rowed  back  to  the 
shore;  and  they  left  their  boats,  their  oars,  their 
nets,  and  followed  Jesus. 

Up  to  this  time  they  had  believed  in  Jesus  and 
were  his  disciples,  but  they  were  not  always  with 
him.  They  divided  their  time  between  him  and 
their  families;  but  now,  "leaving  all  things,  they 
followed  Jesus." 


66     THE  CHILDRIvX'vS  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

THE  CURING  OF  THE  LEPER. 

Grandma:  Last  month,  my  children,  I  told  you 
of  many  interesting  miracles  performed  by  our  Lord, 
especially  that  of  the  miraculous  draught  of  fishes. 

After  this  miracle,  Jesus  continued  journeying 
from  town  to  town,  preaching  and  teaching  the 
Jews  the  law  of  God  and  making  himself  knowTi  to 
them.  One  day,  as  he  entered  the  city  of  Galilee, 
a  man  covered  with  leprosy — 

Paid:     What  is  leprosy? 

Grandma:  Lepros}'  is  a  disease  of  the  skin;  a 
terrible  malady,  most  painful  and  most  repulsive, 
and  so  contagious  that  the  lepers,  those  afflicted 
with  this  disease,  were  forbidden  to  live  with  other 
people.  They  lived  together,  apart  from  every  one, 
outside  of  the  city  gates,  and  were  not  allowed  to 
touch  or  even  draw  near  to  those  in  health.  What 
these  poor  afflicted  ones  required  for  their  food  and 
clothing  was  left  where  they  could  find  it,  but  they 
never  communicated  with  their  friends  and  families. 

Jesus,  seeing  this  poor  leper  standing  at  a  distance, 
not  daring  to  draw  near,  but  kneeling  before  him, 
his   face   on    the   ground,   sa3nng:     "Lord,    if   thou 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      67 

wilt,  thou  canst  make  me  clean,"  was  moved  with 
pity.  "Stretching  forth  his  hand,  Jesus  touched 
him,  saying:  I  will,  be  thou  cleansed."  And 
immediately  the  leprosy  departed  from  him  and  he 
was  cured.  "Jesus  said  to  him:  See  thou  tell  no 
man;  but  go,  show  thyself  to  the  priest,  and  offer 
the  gift  which  Moses  commanded."  This  our  Lord 
told  him  to  do,  that  he  might  show  his  gratitude  and 
prove  to  the  priest  beyond  a  doubt  that  he  was 
healed  of  his  disease. 

As  soon  as  the  man  left  Jesus,  he  began  to  publish 
far  and  wide  the  miracle  wrought  on  him,  so  that 
it  began  to  be  known  everywhere,  and  Jesus  could 
not  show  himself  in  that  city  without  being  surroun- 
ded by  a  crowd  of  people,  coming  from  all  parts  of 
the  country  to  be  cured  by  him  and  to  hear  him. 
But  Jesus  tried  to  avoid  the  crowd,  and  withdrew 
into  the  desert  to  pray. 

Jack:  Why  did  Jesus  forbid  the  leper  to  tell  of 
his  cure? 

Grandma:  To  give  us  an  example  of  humility; 
to  show  us  we  must  not  seek  praise  and  honor,  and 
also  because  Jesus  wished  to  continue  his  work  of 
preaching  and  healing  quietly  without  commotion. 
Jesus  knew  that  if  his  fame  spread  over  the  country, 
the  High  Priests  and  Pharisees  would  seek  his  death; 
and  though  he  had  come  on  this  earth  to  die  for  man's 
redemption,  his  mission  here  on  earth  was  not  yet 
accomplished. 


68     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Henrietta:  Grandma,  what  does  redemption,  or 
to  redeem,  mean  ? 

Grandma:  To  redeem  means  to  buy  back,  to 
purchase. 

Our  first  parents,  Adam  and  Eve,  fell  into  sin  and 
so  fell  into  the  power  of  the  evil  one,  and  through 
them  all  their  descendants,  that  is  all  men,  are  born 
slaves  of  sin. 

Jesus  by  his  sufferings  and  death  redeemed  us, 
bought  us  back  at  the  price  of  his  blood,  from  the 
power  of  Satan,  and  thus  gave  us  all  the  possibility 
of  being  eternally  happy  with  him  in  the  kingdom 
of  heaven,  if  we  follow  his  law  while  on  earth. 

Henrietta:  I  think  I  understand.  It  is  as  if  I 
were  a  king,  and  one  of  my  subjects  owed  me  some 
money.  He  refuses  to  pay  ,  so  I  put  him  in  prison — 
him  and  his  whole  family ;  but  my  son  is  grieved  and 
pays  the  debt,  and  so  I  open  the  prison  door  and  the 
man  and  his  family  are  free. 

Grandma:  That  was  very  well  explained.  I 
have  only  one  thing  to  add.  The  king  would  say 
to  his  subject:  The  door  is  open,  you  are  free;  but 
if  you  do  not  leave  your  prison,  the  door  will  be 
closed  again  for  all  time  and  you  will  be  a  prisoner 
eternally.  According  to  Henrietta's  example,  man's 
debt  is  sin;  the  king  is  the  good  God;  the  prison  is 
this  life  of  trial  and  sufferings  and  no  hope  of  eternal 
salvation;  the  son  is  Jesus  Christ,  our  Savior,  who 
pays  our  debt  by  his  death,   and  the  door  of  our 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     69 

prison  is  opened;  we  may  enter  heaven  if  we  will 
leave  sin.  If  we  will  not  leave  the  slavery  of  sin 
while  on  this  earth,  the  door  of  the  prison  will  be 
shut,  and  we  shall  not  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven, 
but  remain  in  hell,  prisoners  of  satan  for  all  eternity^ 


70     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

THE  CALLING  OF  MATTHEW. 

Jesus  continued  teaching  the  people  who  came 
in  crowds  to  hear  him.  One  day,  as  he  was  passing 
in  the  street,  "he  saw  a  man  sitting  in  the  custom- 
house named  Matthew."  He  was  the  collector  of 
taxes. 

Henrietta:     What  are  taxes? 

Grandma:  The  taxes  were  charges  of  money 
imposed  upon  the  Jews  by  the  Romans,  which  they 
were  obliged  to  pay  their  governor.  Jesus  said  to 
Matthew:  "Follow  me.  And  leaving  all  things, 
he  rose  up  and  followed  him."  St.  Matthew  joined 
the  band  of  the  followers  of  Jesus  and  never  left  him, 
and  later  in  life  wrote  the  story  of  Jesus  which  I  am 
now  relating  to  you. 

Henrietta:  I  thought  St.  John  wrote  the  life  of 
our  Lord. 

Grandma:  St.  John  also  wrote  the  life  of  Christ — 
or  the  Gospel  as  it  is  called  —  as  did  St.  Luke  and 
St.  Mark.  All  four  accounts  of  the  life  of  Jesus  have 
been  carefully  preserved.  What  one  relates  is, 
sometimes,  not  told  by  the  others ;  but  they  all  wrote 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     71 

what  they  had  seen  or  heard,  or  what  others  told 
who  had  witnessed  the  life  of  Christ.  They  wrote 
under  the  guidance  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  who  spoke 
to  them  interiorly. 

Matthew  or  Levi,  for  he  is  known  under  both 
names,  gave  a  great  feast  to  Jesus  in  his  own  house. 

There  was  at  this  festival  a  large  number  of 
pubHcans.  This  angered  the  Pharisees  and  Scribes 
who  were  also  invited,  because  they  thought  them- 
selves superior  to  the  publicans,  and  they  murmured 
saying  to  the  disciples;  "Why  do  you  eat  and 
drink  with  publicans  and  sinners?" 

"Jesus  hearing  this,  said  to  them:  They  that  are 
well  have  no  need  of  a  physician,  but  they  that  are 
sick,  for  I  came  not  to  call  the  just,  but  sinners." 

John:    I  don't  understand  what  our  Lord  meant. 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  meant  that  if  the  publicans 
were  ill  of  soul,  that  is  to  say,  if  they  were  wicked, 
he  came  on  this  earth  for  them  especially;  to  cure 
them,  and  to  make  them  good  and  pure.  Just  as  a 
physician  does  not  take  care  of  those  who  are  well, 
but  of  those  who  are  ill. 

He  gave  them  to  understand  that  he  had  come 
to  forgive,  not  to  punish.  He  had  come  upon  this 
earth,  not  only  for  the  good  and  just  who  followed 
his  law,  but  also  to  draw  to  himself  the  unners  of  the 
whole  world. 


72     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

THE   HEALING   OF   THE   PARALYTIC. 

A  few  days  later  Jesus  returned  to  Capernaum, 
the  city  which  he  had  chosen  as  his  dweUing  place. 
As  soon  as  the  people  heard  in  which  house  he  dwelt, 
they  came  in  crowds  to  hear  him. 

So  great  was  the  multitude  that  the  house  could 
not  hold  the  people  and  they  crowded  around  the 
door-way.  Among  the  crowd  were  many  Phari- 
sees and  doctors  of  the  law,  from  every  part  of 
Galilee,  from  Judea,  and  even  Jerusalem,  to  hear  our 
Lord,  and,  if  possible,  find  fault  with  his  speech  and 
bear  witness  against  him. 

Jack:  What  fault  could  they  find  with  Jesus, 
who  was  doing  good  to  all  and  harming  no  one. 

Grandma:  They  failed,  indeed,  to  find  any  fault 
in  our  Lord ;  and  this  angered  them,  for  they  sought 
every  means  to  accuse  him  before  the  Roman 
governor.  Jesus  often  reproached  them  for  their 
pride,  harshness,  and  hypocrisy,  which  increased 
their  anger. 

One  day,  when  our  Lord  was  addressing  this 
multitude,  "they  brought  to  him  a  man  sick  of  the 
palsy,  lying  on  a  bed,  carried  by  four  men."*  The 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      73 

crowd  was  so  great  they  could  not  enter  the  house 
to  approach  Jesus  and  lay  before  him  their  burden, 
but  full  of  hope  and  faith,  they  would  not  be  turned 
back.  "They  went  up  upon  the  roof,  and  opening  it 
they  let  him  down  through  the  tiles  with  his  bed," 
right  in  the  midst  of  the  crowd  at  the  feet  of  Jesus. 

Louis:  What!  they  were  allowed  to  tear  down 
the  roof? 

Grandma:  In  that  country  the  houses  are  only 
one  story  high  and  the  roofs  are  flat  and  made  of 
large  tiles,  one  laid  beside  the  other,  so  that  a  portion 
of  the  roof  could  easily  be  uncovered  without 
destroying  the  house. 

"Jesus,  seeing  their  faith,  said  to  the  man  sick 
of  the  palsy:  Be  of  good  heart,  son,  thy  sins  are 
forgiven  thee." 

Then  the  Pharisees  and  scribes  said  to  one  another  • 
"Why  doth  this  man  speak  thus?  He  blasphemeth. 
Who  can  forgive  sins  but  God  alone?"  "And 
Jesus,  seeing  their  thoughts,  said:  Why  do  you 
think  evil  in  your  hearts?" 

"Which  is  easier,  to  say:  Thy  sins  are  forgiven 
thee,  or  to  say:  Arise  and  walk?"  "But  that  you 
may  know  that  the  Son  of  Man  hath  power  on  earth 
to  forgive  sins;  then  said  he  to  the  man  sick  of  the 
palsy :  Arise,  take  up  thy  bed,  and  go  into  thy  house." 

"And  immediately  he  arose,  and  taking  up  his 
bed  went  his  way  in  the  sight  of  all." 


74     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

The  crowd  was  greatly  astonished  at  this  great 
miracle,  "and  glorified  God  saying:  We  never  saw 
the  like.'" 

Jane:  Grandma,  you  say  the  Pharisees  accused 
Jesus  of  blaspheming.  What  does  that  mean,  to 
blaspheme? 

Grandma:  To  blaspheme  is  to  say  irreverent 
things;  things  that  are  disrespectful  to  God  and 
against  holy  things. 

Jack:  Jesus  had  said  nothing  disrespectful  to 
God. 

Grandma:  Most  certainly  not,  but  in  performing 
this  miracle,  he  had  also  forgiven  the  sick  man  his 
sins.  God  alone,  as  you  know,  can  forgive  sin, 
as  the  Pharisees  said.  Our  Lord's  words  plainly 
said  to  them:  I  am  God,  therefore  I  forgive  sin 
and  cure  this  man.  The  Pharisees  could  not  endure 
the  thought  that  Jesus  should  be  recognized  as  God, 
and  that  he  should  prove  his  divinity  by  his  miracles. 
They  wanted  a  Messias  who  would  be  a  king,  power- 
ful and  glorious,  who  would  subject  the  whole  world 
to  the  Jewish  nation.  They  refused  to  believe  that 
Christ  was  the  Son  of  God,  with  the  power  of  God 
to  forgive  men  their  sins. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      75 


THIRD  BOOK 

Second  Year  of  the  Ministry  of  Jesus 
CHAPTER  XXIV. 

SECOND  YEAR     OF     THE     MINISTRY     OF     JESUS.      THE 
POOL  OF  BETHESDA. 

Grandma:  A  short  while  afterwards  Jesus  came 
to  Jerusalem  for  the  festival  season.  At  Jerusalem 
there  is  a  pool  of  water  called  Bethesda,  which  name 
means  "The  House  of  Mercy. ' ' 

This  pond  was  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  porches 
where  lay  a  crowd  of  sick,  infirm,  and  cripples,  who 
came  here  to  be  healed.  "An  angel  of  the  Lord 
descended  at  certain  times  into  the  pond,  and  the 
water  was  moved."  And  he  that  went  down  first 
into  the  pool  after  the  motion  of  the  water  was  cured 
of  his  disease. 

Among  these  sick  people  was  a  poor  paralyzed 
man  who  had  been  helpless  for  thirty-nine  years. 
Jesus  seeing  him  lying  upon  the  ground,  and  know- 
ing he  had  been  a  cripple  for  so  long  a  time,  had  pity 
on  him  and  said  to  him:  "Wilt  thou  be  made 
whole?"  The  infirm  man  answered  him:  "Sir, 
I  have  no  man  when  the  water  is  troubled  to  put 
me  into  the  pond.  For  whilst  I  am  coming,  another 
goeth  down  before  me."  Jesus  saith  to  him:  "Arise 
take    up    thy    bed    and    walk.     And    immediately 


76     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

the  man  was  made  whole;  and  he  took  up  his  bed 
and  walked."  "And  it  was  the  Sabbath  that  day.  * 
'*The  Jews,  therefore,  said  to  him  that  was  healed: 
It  is  the  Sabbath,  it  is  not  lawful  for  thee  to  take 
up  thy  bed." 

Jack:  How  foolish  those  Jews  were.  Why  did 
they  not  allow  the  poor  man  to  carry  his  bed  ? 

Grandma:  Because,  according  to  the  Jewish 
law,  it  was  forbidden  to  carry  burdens  on  the  Sab- 
bath day. 

The  paralytic  answered.  "He  that  made  me 
whole  he  said  to  me:     Take  up  thy  bed  and  walk." 

The  Jews  asked  him,  therefore:  "Who  is  that 
man  who  said  to  thee :     Take  up  thy  bed  and  walk  ?" 

"But  he  who  was  healed  knew  not  who  it  was," 
for  Jesus,  after  curing  the  man,  had  slipped  away 
from  the  crowd  unnoticed. 

Shortly  after  this  Jesus  found  this  man  in  the 
Temple,  where  he  had  doubtless  gone  to  return 
thanks,  and  Jesus  said  to  him:  "Behold  thou  art 
made  whole;  sin  no  more,  lest  some  worse  thing 
happen  to  thee."  Then  the  man  went  to  the  Jews 
and  told  them  that  it  was  Jesus  who  had  cured  him. 

Instead  of  recognizing  from  all  these  miracles  that 
Jesus  was  the  promised  Messias,  who  was  to  save  all 
men,  the  Jews  persecuted  him  because  he  healed 
on  the  Sabbath  day,  and  because  he  declared  him- 
self the  Son  of  God,  equal  to  God,  and  God  himself, 
they  sought  to  put  him  to  death. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OE  CHRIST      77 

"Then  Jesus  said  to  them:  Amen,  amen,  I  say 
unto  you,  the  Son  cannot  do  anything  of  himself, 
but  what  he  seeth  the  Father  doing,  for  what  things 
soever  he  doth,  the  Son  also  doth  in  like  manner." 
"For  as  the  Father  raiseth  up  the  dead  and  giveth 
life,  so  the  Son  also  giveth  life  to  whom  he  will.  For 
neither  doth  the  Father  judge  any  man,  but  hath 
given  all  judgement  to  the  Son,  that  all  men  may 
honor  the  Father.  He  who  honoreth  not  the  Son 
honoreth  not  the  Father  who  hath  sent  him." 
"Amen,  amen,  I  say  unto  you,  that  he  who  heareth 
my  word,  and  believeth  him  that  sent  me,  hath 
life  everlasting." 

Elizabeth:  How  beautiful  are  these  words  of  our 
Lord,  yet  I  do  not  understand  them  all. 

Grandma:  No  one  understands  them  fully,  they 
are  divine  words  which  express  many  things  we 
cannot  comprehend.  But  what  we  can  all  under- 
stand is  this :  That  our  Lord  here  declared  before  all 
men  his  divinity.  He  told  them  plainly  that  they 
must  believe  he  was  the  Son  of  God,  equal  to  the 
Father,  and  that  they  did  not  know  the  true  God 
when  they  refused  to  believe  in  him,  Christ  Jesus, 
who  had  come  upon  this  earth,  and  who  was  true 
God  and  true  man.  Jesus  continued  saying  to 
them  many  beautiful  things,  that  he  might  convince 
them  that  he  was  truly  God  made  man.  And  he 
told  them  that  he  spoke  not  for  his  own  glory,  but 


78     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

for  the  glory  of  God,  his  Father,  and  the  happiness 
and  salvation  of  all  men. 

But  the  Jews  were  as  if  deaf  and  blind,  they  would 
not  believe  his  words  nor  his  miracles,  and  they 
continued  to  seek  occasions  to  find  him  in  fault  and 
to  put  him  to  death. 

Jack:  How  I  hate  those  Jews,  they  are  so 
wicked. 

Grandma:  You  will  see  how  they  grew  more 
wicked,  and  how  in  the  end  they  put  our  Lord  to 
death  most  cruelly,  he  who  was  their  God  and  Savior. 

Valentine:  We  would  never  have  been  that 
wicked. 

Grandma:  Oh,  yes;  there  are  millions  of  people 
to-day  who  act  as  did  those  Jews  nineteen  hundred 
years  ago.  To-day  God  made  man  is  not  persecuted, 
because  he  is  no  longer  visibly  here  on  earth;  but 
Christ  is  insulted  by  words  and  deeds  which  are 
against  his  law.  Men  crucify  him  anew  by  their 
evil  will  and  base  thoughts  and  desires,  and  by 
actions   that   are   sinful. 

How  often  in  the  past,  and  even  to-day,  do  we 
not  find  men  persecuting  the  disciples  of  Christ,  the 
priests;  his  faithful  servants,  the  Christians;  and 
even  his  representative  on  earth,  our  Holy  Father, 
the  Pope.  And  we  ourselves,  my  children,  when 
we  fail  to  do  our  duty,  we  insult  our  dear  Lord  and 
act  as  did  the  Jews  who  so  ill-treated  him. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      79 

LitUe  Louis:  Oh,  my,  my;  I  certainly  am  soiry 
I  ever  was  bad.     I  shall  try  and  be  good  always. 

Grandma:  Yes,  my  dear  little  children,  let  us  all 
resolve  not  to  be  like  the  Jews,  but  let  us  be  always 
full  of  love  and  gratitude  towards  the  good  Lord 
Jesus  and  serve  him  faithfully  all  the  days  of  our  life. 


80     THK  CiilLDRKN'S  UFK  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE  MAN  WITH  THE  WITHERED  HAND. 

Grandma :  To-day  I  have  to  relate  to  you  another 
miracle  performed  by  Jesus.  One  day  our  Lord 
entered  the  synagogue  and  began  to  teach  the 
people.  Standing  near  him  was  a  man  who  had  a 
withered  hand;  an  affliction  caused  by  some  illness 
or  by  an  accident. 

The  Doctors  of  the  Law  and  the  Pharisees  who 
were,  as  I  told  you,  always  seeking  occasion  to  accuse 
Jesus,  watched  our  Lord  sharply  to  see  if  he  would 
heal  this  man  on  the  Sabbath  day.  But  Jesus, 
knowing  their  thoughts,  said  to  them:  "What  man 
shall  there  be  among  you  that  hath  one  sheep,  and 
if  the  same  fall  into  a  pit  on  the  Sabbath  day,  will 
he  not  take  hold  on  him  and  lift  it  up?" 

"Therefore,  it  is  lawful  to  do  a  good  deed  on  the 
Sabbath  day."  Then  he  told  the  man  who  had  the 
withered  hand  to  stand  up  in  the  midst  of  them  all, 
and  turning  to  the  Pharisees  and  Doctors  of  the  Law 
he  said  to  them:  "It  is  lawful  to  do  good  on  the 
Sabbath  day,  or  to  do  evil ;  to  save  life,  or  to  destroy?" 

They  dared  not  reply  a  word;  then  Jesus  looked 
at    them    with    indignation,    and   saddened    at    the 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     81 

blindness  of  their  hearts,  he  said  to  the  afflicted  man: 
"Stretch  forth  thy  hand,  and  he  stretched  it  forth 
and  his  hand  was  restored  unto  him." 

The  Pharisees  were  very  angry,  but  they  dared 
not  blame  him  before  the  people,  and  going  out 
of  the  synagogue  they  consulted  together  how  they 
might  have  him  put  to  death. 

Little  Louis:  Grandma,  what  does  blindness  of 
heart  mean?  How  can  a  heart  be  blind,  when  it 
has  no  eyes? 

Grandma:  This  does  not  mean  literally  that  the 
heart  can't  see.  We  say  "blindness  of  heart"  to 
express  the  evil  feelings  of  the  heart,  which  blind 
it  or  prevent  it  from  seeing  or  understanding  the 
evil  that  we  do. 

Henrietta:  Don't  you  know,  Louis,  when  any  one 
says  to  you:  "You  see  you  are  wrong,"  you  don't 
sec  with  your  eyes,  but  you  jeel  you  are  wrong. 

Little  Louis:     Oh,  yes;  now  I  understand. 


82     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

JESUS  CHOOSES  HIS  TWELVE  APOSTLES. 

Grandma:  After  this  miracle,  our  Lord  with- 
drew on  a  mountain  nearby,  where  he  spent  the 
night  in  prayer,  as  he  was  accustomed  to  do  often. 

Louis:  Why  did  our  Lord  pray?  To  whom  did 
he  pray,  since  he  was  God  and  all  powerful? 

Grandma:  It  is  true  that  he  was  God,  but  he  was 
God  made  man.  Do  not  forget  that  he  had  come 
upon  this  earth  in  the  form  of  a  man  in  order  that 
his  whole  life  on  this  earth  might  be  an  example  to  us. 
As  a  man  he  prayed  and  honored  his  Father,  to  show 
us  how  we  should  pray  and  worship  God,  our  Father 
in  heaven. 

Moreover,  our  Lord,  true  God  and  true  man, 
prayed  in  very  truth  as  we  pray.  He  adored  his 
Father  kneeling  and  his  hands  clasped  even  as  we  do. 
Christ  worshipped  and  prayed  for  the  needs  of  the 
whole  world,  and  his  prayer  was  more  perfect  and 
beautiful  than  we  can  understand. 

Having  prayed  all  night,  when  day  dawned,  Jesus 
called  his  disciples  to  him  and  "from  among  them  he 
chose  out  twelve,  to  whom  he  gave  the  name  of 
Apostles." 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      83 

Jane:     What  are  Apostles? 

Grandma:  Apostle  means  "one  sent."  Jesus 
called  them  thus,  because  he  was  to  send  them  into 
other  countries,  to  other  nations,  to  preach  his 
commandments  and  to  make  known  his  coming. 
These  twelve  Apostles  were:  Simon,  whom  Jesus 
surnamed  Peter,  James,  the  Son  of  Zebedee,  and 
John  his  brother,  Andrew,  Matthew,  Jude,  Philip, 
Thomas,  Simon  the  Cananean,  Bartholomew,  James, 
the  son  of  Alpheus,  and  Judas  Iscariot,  who  betrayed 
him. 

Henry:  Since  he  was  to  betray  him,  why  did 
our  Lord  choose  him  for  an  Apostle  ? 

Grandma:  When  our  Lord  called  him  to  be  an 
Apostle,  Judas  was  good  and  full  of  zeal.  He  grew 
wicked  later  on,  because  he  neglected  the  favors  and 
graces  Christ  showered  upon  him.  He  loved  riches, 
and  became  mean  and  selfish.  In  choosing  him  our 
Lord  showed  us  that  even  the  best  among  us  must 
watch  and  fight  our  evil  inclinations,  lest  we  become 
wicked   like    Judas    Iscariot. 


84     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

THE  SERMON  ON  THE  MOUNT. 

Grandma:  It  was  springtime  in  Judea;  the  lilies 
were  blooming  in  the  fields,  the  vines  and  the  fig 
trees  were  green  upon  the  hills,  and  the  birds  were 
singing.  A  great  crowd  had  followed  Jesus,  and 
seating  himself  upon  the  hilltop,  while  the  people 
crowded  in  the  plain,  some  sitting  on  the  grass,  some 
standing,  he  spoke  to  them  in  a  beautiful  discourse, 
which  is  known  as  "the  Sermon  on  the  Mount."  I 
shall  tell  you  some  of  the  beautiful  things  Christ 
spoke  to  this  multitude:  "Blessed,"  he  said,  "are 
the  poor  in  spirit;  for  theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven." 

Henrietta:     What  does  poor  in  spirit  mean? 

Grandma:  The  poor  in  spirit  are  those  who  do 
not  seek  for  greater  wealth  and  gain,  and  who  do  not 
set  their  hearts  and  mind  on  riches,  and  wish  all 
power  for  themselves.  "Blessed  are  they  that 
weep;  for  they  shall  be  comforted."  By  these 
words  our  Lord  means  that  they  will  be  comforted 
who  patiently  and  with  courage  bear  the  sorrows 
and  trials  of  this  life.  "Blessed  are  the  meek;  for 
they  shall  possess  the  land." 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      85 

Paul:     What   land — all   the   earth? 

Grandma:  Jesus  here  promises  heaven,  the  land 
promised  to  the  good,  and  also  that,  in  this  world, 
gentleness  and  meekness  will  be  rewarded  by  the 
love  that  they  always  inspire.  For  the  gentle  and 
meek  win  the  hearts  of  the  people  of  all  lands,  and 
soften  even  the  hearts  of  the  wicked. 

Jesus  continued:  "Blessed  are  they  that  hunger 
and  thirst  after  justice;  for  they  shall  have  their  fill." 

Henrietta:  What  means  to  hunger  and  thirst 
after  justice? 

Grand  ma :  This  means  to  desire  justice  as  ardently 
as  we  desire  to  eat  and  to  drink  when  we  are  hungry 
and  thirsty.  Justice  is  all  that  is  right  and  good  in 
the  sight  of  God. 

"Blessed  are  the  mirciful;  for  they  shall  obtain 
mercy."  To  be  merciful  means  to  forgive.  They 
are  blessed  who  forgive  readily  all  injuries,  and  who 
have  compassion  on  the  unfortunate,  and  who  com- 
fort and  console  the  afflicted. 

"Blessed  are  the  pure  of  heart;  for  they  shall  see 
God." 

Paul:    What  is  pure  of  heart? 

Grandma:  Pure  means  clean;  they  are  blessed 
whose  hearts  are  washed  clean  of  every  evil  thought 
and  desire.  "Blessed  are  the  peacemakers;  for  they 
shall  be  called  the  children  of  God."  The  peacemakers 
are  those  who  strive  to  make  peace,  who  avoid  dis- 
putes and  quarrels,  and  who  yield  rather  than  argue. 


8G     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

And  now  Jesus  said:  "Blessed  are  they  that  suffer 
persecution  for  justice'  sake;  for  theirs  is  the  king- 
dom of  heaven."  This  is  the  last  of  the  eight 
beatitudes,  as  these  promises  of  our  Lord,  begin- 
ning with  the  word  "blessed,"  are  called.  Beati- 
tude means  happiness,  blessedness. 

Our  Lord  added:  "Blessed  are  ye  when  they  shall 
revile  you,  and  persecute  you,  and  speak  all  that  is 
evil  against  you,  untruly,  for  my  sake." 

Jane:     Why  does  Jesus  say  "for  my  sake?" 

Grandma:  In  all  ages,  through  the  wickedness 
of  men,  many  have  been  called  upon  to  suffer  per- 
secution because  of  Jesus,  or  for  his  sake.  For  ex- 
ample, the  martyrs  who  were  cruelly  put  to  death 
because  they  would  not  deny  their  faith  in  Jesus 
Christ  as  their  Lord  and  God.  The  souls  of  these 
martyrs  at  their  death  enter  heaven  at  once,  and  so 
they  are  blessed  indeed.  And,  therefore,  Jesus 
added:  "Be  glad  and  rejoice,  for  your  reward  is 
very  great  in  heaven." 

Camille:  How  different  our  Lord's  teacliing  is 
from  what  we  hear  around  us  in  the  world.  They 
are  called  blessed  and  happy  who  have  wealth  and 
fine  positions  and  nothing  to  suffer. 

Grandma:  And  the  world  would  be  right,  if 
there  was  not  another  life  in  heaven  or  in  hell.  For 
we  Christians  know  that  when  we  leave  this  earth 
there  is  an  eternity  waiting  for  us;  therefore,  that 
those  things  only  are  good  and  blessed  which  pre- 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      87 

pare  our  souls  for  heaven,  and  that  those  things, 
however  good  they  may  appear,  which  lead  our  souls 
to  evil,  are  a  real  misfortune  to  us.  Jesus  spoke  at 
great  length,  but  you  are  too  young  to  understand 
all  he  said.  Those  of  you  who  wish  to  know  more 
of  this  beautiful  discourse,  can  read  St.  Matthew's 
Gospel,  fifth,  sixth,  and  seventh  chapters.  What  you 
can  understand  I  shall  tell  you  in  our  Lord's  words. 

"Woe  to  you  that  are  rich,  for  you  have  your 
consolation." 

"Woe  to  you  that  are  filled,  for  you  shall  hunger." 

Jack:  Does  our  Lord  mean  we  should  not  be 
rich,  nor  eat,  nor  drink? 

Grandma:  We  may  be  wealthy,  but  we  must  not 
love  riches  so  much  that  we  keep  our  wealth  for 
ourselves  only.  We  must  share  our  good  things 
with  the  needy.  Neither  must  we  be  greedy,  eager 
for  dainty  food,  while  we  refuse  bread  to  the  poor. 
If  we  do,  we  shall  have  to  suffer  in  the  other  world 
to  atone  and  expiate  our  gluttony  and  avarice. 

Our  Lord  continued  speaking  to  the  people  who 
surrounded  him:  "You  have  heard  that  it  was  said 
to  them  of  old :  Thou  shalt  not  kill ;  and  whosoever 
shall  kill  shall  be  in  danger  of  the  judgment.  But 
I  say  to  you  that  whosoever  is  angry  with  his 
brother  shall  be  in  danger  of  the  judgment.  And 
whosoever  shall  say  to  his  brother,  Raca,  shall  be  in 
danger  of  the  council.  And  whosoever  shall  say. 
Thou  fool,  shall  be  in  danger  of  hell  fire." 


88     THE  CHILDREN'S   LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Louis:     Is  Raca  a  very  bad  word? 

Grandma:  Raca  was  an  expression  of  great 
contempt.  Our  Lord  desires  to  show  us  plainly  how 
wrong  it  is  to  abuse  others;  to  despise  and  to  be 
angry  with  them. 

Little  Louis:  Our  Lord  says  we  must  not  abuse 
our  brothers,  but  I  suppose  it  is  not  wrong  to  quarrel 
with  our  cousins. 

Grandma:  Oh,  yes;  for  our  Lord,  in  saying 
brother,  means  all  men — for  we  are  all  brothers, 
because  God  is  Father  to  us  all.  The  poorest  man 
is  your  brother,  for,  like  you,  he  is  a  child  of  God  and 
a  brother  of  Christ  Jesus. 

Jesus  added:  "If,  therefore,  thou  offer  thy  gift 
at  the  alter,  and  there  thou  remember  that  thy 
brother  hath  anjiihing  against  thee,  leave  there  thy 
offering  before  the  alter,  and  go  first  to  be  reconciled 
to  thy  brother;  and  then  coming  thou  shalt  offer 
thy  gift."  "If  thy  right  eye  scandalize  thee,  pluck 
it  out  and  cast  it  from  thee;  and  if  thy  right  hand 
scandalize  thee,  cut  it  off  and  cast  it  from  thee." 

Louis:     This  seems  to  me  very  hard  to  obey. 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  does  not  mean  literally 
that  we  must  tear  out  our  eyes  and  cut  oft'  our  hands, 
but  he  means  that  if  a  thing  or  a  person,  to  whom  we 
may  be  as  attached  as  we  are  to  our  eyes  and  hands, 
should  lead  us  into  sin,  we  must  leave  it,  separate 
ourselves  from  it,  whatever  the  separation  may 
cost  us.     Our  Lord  often  sp)oke  in  parables. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     89 

Paul:    What  are  parables? 

Grandma:  A  parable  means  a  comparison,  a 
story,  which  so  closely  resembles  what  we  wish  to 
teach,  that  it  helps  us  to  make  our  meaning  clear. 

Jesus  continued.  "I  say  to  you  do  not  swear  at 
all,  neither  by  the  earth  nor  by  heaven  .  .  .  Let 
your  speech  be:  'This  is  so;'  'That  is  not  so;' 
'yes;'  'no.'  Everything  which  is  more  than  this 
comes  from  an  evil  source."  You  have  heard  that 
it  has  been  said:  "An  eye  for  an  eye,  a  tooth  for  a 
tooth." 

Jack:     What  does  that  mean? 

Grandma:  In  those  days  revenge  was  not  for- 
bidden by  the  old  Jewish  law.  If  any  one  injured 
his  neighbor,  his  enemy  rendered  him  evil  for  evil 
injury  for  injury.  Jesus  taught  a  very  different  law, 
for  he  said:  "I  say  to  you  not  to  resist  evil,  but  if 
one  strike  thee  on  the  right  cheek,  turn  to  him  also  the 
other.  .  .  .  And  if  a  man  will  take  away  thy 
coat,  let  go  thy  cloak  also.  .  .  .  And  whoso- 
ever will  force  thee  one  mile  go  with  him  two  more." 

Elizabeth:  Grandma,  ajre  we  obliged  to  do  all 
this? 

Grandma:  These  words  of  our  Lord  are  counsels, 
advice,  not  commands.  We  are  obliged  to  follow 
the  spirit  of  these  counsels,  which  is  to  bear  injury 
patiently  and  to  show  charity  to  all  men. 

Jesus  continued.  "You  have  heard:  'Thou  shalt 
love  thy  neighbor  and   hate  thy   enemy.      But   I 


90     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

say  to  you:  Love  your  enemies,  do  good  to  them 
that  hate  you ;  and  pray  for  them  that  persecute  and 
calumniate  you.  That  you  may  be  the  children  of 
your  Father  who  is  in  heaven,  who  maketh  the  sun 
to  rise  upon  the  good  and  bad,  and  raineth  upon  the 
just  and  the  unjust."  "And  if  you  salute  your 
brethem  only,  what  do  you  more?  Do  not  the 
heathen  this?"  "Be  you,  therefore,  perfect  as  also 
your  heavenly  Father  is  perfect." 

Valentine:     What  are  heathens? 

Grandma:  Heathens  are  those  who  do  not  know 
the  true  God,  and  who  have  made  for  themselves 
false  gods  and  images  of  false  gods,  which  they  adore 
instead  of  the  true  God.  They  are  also  called 
idolaters,  because  these  images  are  called  idols. 

Henrietta:  Grandma,  Jesus  says  we  must  be 
perfect  as  God  is  perfect.  We  can  never  be  as  perfect 
as  he. 

Grandma:  No;  we  cannot  be  as  perfect  as  the 
good  God,  but  we  can  and  must  strive  to  become 
perfect;  doing  always  all  we  can  to  please  God,  by 
taking  Jesus  Christ  as  our  model. 

And,  continued  Jesus:  "Take  heed  that  you  do 
not  your  justice  before  men,  to  be  seen  by  them; 
otherwise  you  shall  not  have  a  reward  of  your  Father 
who  is  in  heaven,"  "Therefore,  when  thou  dost  any 
almsdeed,  let  not  thy  left  hand  know  what  thy  right 
hand  doth." 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     91 

Louis:  How  can  a  hand  know  or  not  know  what 
is  done?     A  hand  can't  think. 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  here  teaches  us  that  we 
must  not  do  our  good  deeds  to  be  seen  by  men,  that 
they  may  praise  us;  for  their  praise  would  be  our 
only  reward;  but  to  be  seen  only  by  our  Father  in 
heaven,  who  will  reward  us. 


92     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

THE    "OUR   FATHER." 

Grandma:  And  Jesus  taught  the  multitude  how 
they  should  pray,  saying:  "And  when  you  pray, 
you  shall  not  be  as  hypocrites  that  love  to  stand  and 
pray  in  the  synagogues  and  comers  of  the  streets, 
that  they  may  be  seen  by  men.  Amen  I  say  to  you, 
they  have  received  their  reward."  "But  thou, 
when  thou  shalt  pray,  enter  into  thy  chamber,  and 
having  shut  the  door,  pray  to  thy  Father  in  secret; 
and  thy  Father  who  seeth  in  secret  will  repay  thee." 

Our  Lord  here  warns  us  again  not  to  do  good  in 
order  to  be  seen  by  men.  When  we  go  to  church, 
which  is  the  house  of  God,  we  must  not  go,  as  the 
hypocrites  do,  to  be  seen.  And,  continued  Jesus: 
"When  you  pray,  speak  not  much,  as  the  heathens 
do."  .  .  .  "Thus,  therefore,  shall  you  pray: 
"Our  Father  who  art  in  heaven,  hallowed  be  thy 
name.  Thy  kingdom  come.  Thy  will  be  done  on 
earth  as  it  is  in  heaven.  Give  us  this  day  our  daily 
bread.  And  forgive  us  our  trespasses,  as  we  for- 
give those  who  trespass  against  us.     And  lead  us 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      93 

not  into  temptation.  But  deliver  us  from  evil.' 
Amen." 

Jane:  But  that  is  the  Our  Father  which  we  say 
every  day ! 

Grandma:  Yes,  it  is  the  beautiful  prayer  called 
the  Our  Father,  because  of  these  two  words  with 
which  it  begins. 

Jane:    I  never  knew  Jesus  had  made  that  prayer. 

Grandtiia:  Yes,  Christ  Jesus  made  the  Our 
Father  to  teach  how  we  should  pray  and  what  we 
should  ask  of  God.  It  is  the  most  beautiful  and 
wonderful  pray2r  in  the  world.  It  could  not  be 
otherwise,  since  it  was  made  by  God  himself.  And 
to  impress  upon  us  the  duty  of  forgiveness,  Jesus 
added:  "If  you  will  forgive  men  their  offences, 
your  heavenly  Father  will  forgive  you  also  your 
offences.  But  if  you  will  not  forgive  men,  neither 
will  your  Father  forgive  you  your  offences."  So  you 
see,  children,  how  good  it  is  that  we  sometimes  have 
cause  to  forgive  our  neighbor,  because  by  our  for- 
giveness of  injuries  done  to  us,  we  ourselves  obtain 
mercy  from  our  Father  in  heaven.  And  Jesus  said: 
"Lay  not  up  to  yourselves  treasurers  on  earth: 
where  the  rust  and  moth  consume,  and  where 
thieves  break  through  and  steal.  But  lay  up  for 
yourselves  treasures  in  heaven;  where  neither  the 
rust  nor  the  moth  doth  consume,  not  the  thieves 
break  through,  nor  steal." 


94     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Louis:  What  treasures  must  we  collect  for 
ourselves? 

Grandma:  Prayer,  almsgiving,  acts  of  charity 
and  humility,  and  gentleness  and  obedience,  which 
are  treasures  in  God's  sight;  the  only  gifts  we  can 
offer  him  and  which  no  one  can  take  from  us.  "There- 
fore," said  Jesus,  "be  not  solicitous  for  your  life, 
what  you  shall  eat,  nor  for  your  body,  what  you  shall 
put  on.  .  .  .  Behold  the  birds  of  the  air,  for 
they  neither  sow,  nor  do  they  reap,  nor  gather  into 
bams;  and  your  heavenly  Father  feedeth  them. 
Are  not  you  of  much  more  value  than  they  ?  .  .  . 
Be  not  solicitous  therefore,  saying:  What  shall  we 
eat,  or  what  shall  we  drink,  or  wherewith  shall 
we  be  clothed?  .  .  .  For  your  Father  knoweth 
that  you  need  all  these  things.  Seek  ye  therefore 
first  the  kingdom  of  God  and  his  justice,  and  all 
these  things  shall  be  added  unto  you."  Here  our 
Lord  teaches  that  while  we  attend  to  the  business 
of  our  daily  lives,  it  must  be  without  worry  and 
anxiety  and  with  confidence  and  trust  in  our  heavenly 
Father. 

And  continued  Christ:  "Judge  not,  that  you  may 
not  be  judged.  For  with  what  judgement  you 
judge,  you  shall  be  judged.  .  .  .  And  why  seest 
thou  the  mote  that  is  in  thy  brother's  eye,  and  seeth 
not  the  beam  that  is  in  thy  own  eye?" 

Mary  Theresa:  How  could  a  beam  of  wood  be 
in  any  one's  eyes? 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST      95 

Grandma:  When  our  Lord  speaks  of  the  beam 
and  of  the  mote,  which  is  the  tiniest  particle  possible 
he  is  again  using  a  comparison,  a  similitude.  He 
here  compares  the  small  faults,  as  small  as  motes, 
which  we  see  in  others,  to  the  great  faults,  as  large 
as  beams,  which  we  do  not  see  in  ourselves;  and, 
therefore,  our  Lord  added:  "Thou  hpyocrite,  cast 
out  first  the  beam  out  of  thy  own  eye,  and  then  thou 
shalt  see  to  cast  out  the  mote  out  of  thy  brother's 
eye."  "Ask,  and  it  shall  be  given  you;  seek,  and 
you  shall  find;  knock,  and  it  shall  be  opened  to  you." 

Patd:  Grandma,  I  often  ask  for  things,  and  I 
don't  get  them;  and  I  knock,  and  I  am  told  I  can't 
come  in;  and  I  look  for  things,  and  I  can't  find  them. 
Yesterday  I  asked  you  for  a  knife,  and  you  did  not 
give   it   to   me. 

Grandma:  Little  Paul,  you  forget  that  Jesus 
speaks  here  to  men  about  the  things  of  God.  He 
tells  us  to  ask  God  for  those  things  we  need,  and  he 
will  not  refuse  us,  provided  what  we  ask  be  good  and 
useful  to  us.  But  our  Father  in  heaven  will  refuse 
to  give  us  what  we  ask  if  it  be  dangerous  for  us,  as  I 
refused  you  a  knife  which  might  have  hurt  you.  And 
when  our  Lord  speaks  of  seeking  and  of  knocking, 
that  we  may  find  and  that  the  door  may  be  opened  to 
us,  he  refers  to  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  This 
kingdom  will  be  ours  if  we  seek  it  with  perseverance 
by  praying  persistently  for  those  virtues  which  give 
us   a  quiet  conscience,   at  peace   with  God.     And 


96     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

this  good  conscience  is  a  beginning  of  his  kingdom 
even  in  this  world. 

Paul:     What  is  the  conscience? 

Grandma:  Our  conscience  is  that  inner  voice 
which  tells  us  what  is  right  and  what  is  wrong,  and 
which  warns  us  that  even  when  alone  we  are  under 
the  eye  of  our  Father  in  heaven.  Conscience  is  the 
voice  of  God. 

Jesus  said  many  more  beautiful  things,  and  ended 
his  discourse  on  the  Mount  with  these  words: 

"Every  one  therefore  that  heareth  these  my 
words,  and  doth  them,  shall  be  likened  to  a  wise 
man  that  built  his  house  upon  a  rock.  And  the  rain 
fell,  and  the  floods  came,  and  the  winds  blew,  and 
they  beat  on  that  house,  and  it  fell  not,  for  it 
was  founded  on  a  rock."  "And  every  one  that 
heareth  these  my  words,  and  doth  them  not,  shall 
be  like  a  foolish  man  that  built  his  house  upon  the 
sand.  And  the  rain  feH,  and  the  floods  came,  and 
the  winds  blew,  and  they  beat  upon  that  house,  and 
it  fell,  and  great  was  the  fall  thereof." 

The  multitude  listened  with  wonder  and  delight 
to  these  words  of  Christ,  for  he  spoke  as  one 
who  had  power  to  teach;  not  as  the  scribes  and 
Pharisees  who  had  long  taught  them,  but  who  had 
failed  to  win  them  to  the  love  of  God  as  did 
Christ  Jesus. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     97 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

THE  CENTURION. 

Grandma:  After  the  wonderful  sermon  of  which 
I  told  you,  Jesus  came  down  from  the  mountain 
followed  by  a  great  crowd,  and  returned  to  Caper- 
naum. A  Roman  Centurion  drawing  near  said  to 
him — 

Jane:     What  is  a  Centurion ? 

Grandma:  A  Centurion  was  a  Roman  officer  who 
had  one  hundred  men  under  his  command.  The 
Centurion  said  to  Jesus:  "Lord,  my  servant  lieth 
at  home  sick  of  the  palsy,  and  is  grievously  tor- 
mented." And  Jesus  said  to  him:  "I  will  come, 
and  heal  him." 

And  the  Centurion  answered,  and  said:  "Lord 
I  am  not  worthy  that  thou  shouldst  enter  under 
my  roof;  but  only  say  the  word,  and  my  servant 
shall  be  healed." 

Peter:  Why,  these  are  the  very  same  words  the 
priest  uses  before  he  receives  Holy  Communion  and 
before  he  gives  us  Holy  Communion. 

Grandma:  Yes;  these  words  so  perfect  in  their 
humility,  have  come  down  to  us  from  this  Centurion, 


98     THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

and  are  repeated  by  the  priest  at  every  Mass,  and 
by  all  who  draw  near  to  Jesus  in  Holy  Communion. 

And  the  Centurion  added:  "For  I  also  am  a  man 
under  authority;  and  I  say  to  one:  Go,  and  he 
goeth;  and  to  another:  Come,  and  he  cometh;  and 
to  my  servant:     Do  this,  and  he  doth  it." 

Jesus  healing  these  words  was  surprised,  and 
said  to  them  that  followed  him:  "Amen  I  say  to 
you,  I  have  not  found  so  great  faith  in  Israel.  Many 
shall  come  from  the  East  and  the  West,  and  shall  sit 
down  with  Abraham  and  Isaac  and  Jacob  in  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,  but  the  children  of  the  kingdom 
shall  be  cast  out  into  the  exterior  darkness:  there 
shall  be  weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth." 

Louis:  Grandma,  I  don't  quite  understand  these 
words — who  will  come  from  the  East  and  the  West? 

Grandma:  By  these  words  our  Lord  praises  the 
Centurion — who  was  a  Roman,  not  a  Jew — and  at 
the  same  time  he  teaches  the  Jews  a  lesson.  He  tells 
them  that  other  nations  to  the  East  and  to  the  West 
of  Judea,  who  had  not  been  blessed  as  the  Jews  had 
been  in  having  Christ,  the  Savior  of  the  world,  with 
them,  will  none  the  less  believe  in  his  coming.  He 
adds  that  they  will  be  saved  by  their  faith  as  surely 
as  were  the  Jewish  patriarchs,  Abraham,  Isaac, 
and  Jacob,  who  are  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

Louis:  And  who  are  the  children  of  the  king- 
dom, of  whom  our  Lord  speaks,  and  why  will  they 
be  cast  into  darkness? 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     99 

Grandma:  The  children  of  the  kingdom  were  the 
Jewish  people.  A  nation  specially  watched  over  by 
God,  and  to  whom  he  sent  his  only  Son,  Jesus  Christ, 
that  he  might  teach  them  the  way  to  the  kingdom 
of  God.  But  they  were  ungrateful  and  rebellious 
sons  of  God — and  refused  to  believe  in  him.  So  our 
Lord  says  that,  while  the  other  nations  of  the  earth 
will  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  those  who  refused 
to  believe  in  him  will  be  cast  into  the  darkness  of  hell. 

Jane:    What  a  terrible  thing  is  hell. 

Grandma:  Yes;  more  terrible  than  any  suffering 
in  this  world  can  be.  To  avoid  this  eternal  punish- 
ment we  must  do  our  duty  faithfully ;  we  must  resist 
temptation  and  love  God.  In  a  word,  we  must  be 
good  Christians. 

And  turning  to  the  Centurion,  Jesus  said:  "Go 
and  as  thou  hast  believed,  so  be  it  done  to  thee." 
"And  the  servant  was  healed  at  the  same  hour." 


100   THE  CHILDREN'S   LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

THE  SON  OF  THE  WIDOW  OF  NAIM. 

Grandma:  Jesus  left  Capernaum,  and  took  the 
road  to  Nairn,  in  the  company  of  his  disciples  and 
followed  by  a  great  crowd. 

Drawing  near  to  the  gates  of  the  city,  they  met 
a  funeral  procession  wending  its  way  to  the  burying 
ground  outside  the  city. 

Carried  on  a  litter  by  his  kindred  lay  the  body  of 
the  dead,  a  young  man,  "the  only  son  of  his  mother^ 
and  she  was  a  widow." 

Jesus,  seeing  the  distress  of  the  poor  mother,  was 
moved  with  pity. 

Drawing  near,  he  touched  the  litter,  and  the 
bearers  stood  still,  and  Jesus  said  to  the  dead: 
"Young  man,  I  say  to  thee,  arise!"  "And  he  that 
was  dead  sat  up  and  began  to  speak,  and  Jesus  gave 
him  to  his  mother." 

Elizabeth:  How  wonderful  it  is  that  our  Lord 
could  raise  the  dead  to  life! 

Grandma:  Jesus  raised  the  dead  to  life  by  the 
the  same  power  that  he  created.  Christ  was  God 
as  well  as  man — and  it  is  not  more  wonderful  to 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    101 

restore  the  dead  to  life  than  it  is  to  create  a  being 
into  life. 

And  all  who  witnessed  this  miracle  were  filled  with 
fear,  "and  they  glorified  God,  saying:  A  great 
prophet  is  risen  up  among  us,  and  God  hath  visited 
his  people." 


102   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

JOHN   THE    BAPTIST   SENDS   HIS   DISCIPLES   TO   JESUS. 

Grandma:  Rumors  of  the  miracles  of  Jesus  were 
spread  far  and  wide  in  all  Judea  and  in  all  the  neigh- 
boring country.  John  the  Baptist  heard  these 
things,  and  calling  two  of  his  disciples  he  sent  them 
to  Jesus,  bidding  them  ask  Christ  who  he  was; 
saying:  "Art  thou  he  that  art  to  come;  or  look  we 
for  another?" 

Henry:  Why  did  not  John  go  himself  to  Jesus, 
instead  of  sending  his  disciples? 

Grandma :  John  was  detained  in  prison  by  Herod, 
and  he  sent  his  disciples  to  witness  if  this  was  the 
Christ,  the  Messias,  whom  he  had  long  known. 

While  these  messengers  stood  by,  Jesus  healed 
in  their  presence  "many  of  their  diseases  and  sores, 
and  evil  spirits,  and  to  many  that  were  blind  he 
gave  sight;"  and  turning  to  the  two  disciples  Jesus 
said:  "Go  and  relate  to  John  what  you  have  heard 
and  seen:  The  blind  see,  the  lame  walk,  the  lepers 
are  made  clean,  the  deaf  hear,  the  dead  rise  again; 
to  the  poor  the  Gospel  is  preached." 

In  these  words  our  Lord  gave  John  the  Baptist 
a  sign  that  he  was  truly  the  Messias,  with  the  power 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    103 

of  God  to  heal  all  men ;  the  Christ  who  had  come  to 
preach  the  Gospel  to  all,  rich  and  poor  alike,  which 
means  the  message  of  good  tidings  of  God's  kingdom. 

When  the  messengers  left  with  their  answer  for 
John  the  Baptist,  our  Lord  began  to  speak  of  John 
to  the  people:  "What  went  ye  out  into  the  desert 
to  see?  a  reed  shaken  with  the  wind?"  .  .  .  "But 
what  went  you  out  to  see?  a  prophet?  yea,  I  say 
to  you,  and  more  than  a  prophet.  This  is  he  of 
whom  it  is  written :  Behold  I  send  my  angel  before 
thy  face,  who  shall  prepare  thy  way  before  thee." 

Louis:  What  means  "before  thy  face;"  and 
whose  way  did  the  angel  prepare  ? 

Grandma:  St.  John  the  Baptist  was  the  ange!; 
the  messenger,  to  whom  our  Lord  refers.  He  was 
the  forerunner  of  Christ,  sent  to  foretell,  to  announce, 
his  coming.  Then  our  Lord  reproached  the  Jews 
because  they  had  not  recognized  John  as  his  fore- 
runner, and  that  they  now  refused  to  see  in  himself 
Christ  the  Savior  of  the  World,  foretold  by  John  the 
Baptist. 


104  THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

THE  SINFUL  WOMAN  IN  THE  HOUSE  OF  SIMON. 

Grandma:  And  now  I  shall  relate  to  you  an 
instance  of  the  great  mercy  of  Jesus  Christ  for  all 
repentant  sinners. 

One  day  a  Pharisee  named  Simon  invited  Jesus 
and  his  disciples  to  a  banquet  in  his  house.  Wliile 
they  were  at  table  a  woman,  who  was  known  as  one 
who  led  a  wicked  life,  came  into  the  banquet-room 
bearing  an  alabaster  box  of  precious  ointment. 

Little  Louis :     Who  was  this  woman  ? 

Grandma:  This  woman  was  Mary  Magdalene, 
the  sister  of  Martha  and  of  Lazarus,  who  were  the 
friends  of  Jesus.  She  was  young,  rich,  and  beautiful. 
She  lived  in  the  town  of  Magdala,  spending  her  life 
in  pleasures  and  in  sin,  far  from  thoughts  of  God. 
But  she  had  seen  and  heard  Jesus,  and  repentance 
was  beginning  to  stir  her  soul. 

Hearing  that  he  was  in  the  house  of  Simon,  she 
came  to  him  full  of  sorrow  for  her  sins.  Throwing 
herself  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  she  kissed  his  feet,  bathed 
them  in  the  tears  she  shed,  wiped  them  with  her  long 
hair,  and  breaking  her  alabaster  box,  poured  its 
perfume    on    his    feet.     Jesus    was    silent,    and    the 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    105 

Pharisee  who  had  invited  him  to  this  dinner  thought 
to  himself:  "If  this  man  were  a  prophet,  he  would 
surely  know  who  and  what  manner  of  woman  this  is 
that  toucheth  him;  that  she  is  a  sinner." 

Jesus  read  the  thought  of  Simon  and  said  to  him : 
"Simon,  I  have  something  to  say  to  thee."  And 
Simon  answered:  "Master,  say  it."  And  Jesus 
said:  "A  certain  creditor  had  two  debtors;  the  one 
owed  him  five  hundred  pence  and  the  other  fifty; 
and  whereas  they  had  not  wherewith  to  pay,  he  for- 
gave them  both.  Which,  therefore,  of  the  two 
loveth  him  most?"  Simon  answering,  said:  "I 
suppose  that  he  to  whom  he  forgave  most."  And 
Jesus  said  to  him:      "Thou  hast  judged  rightly." 

And  turning  to  the  woman,  he  said  to  Simon: 
"Dost  thou  see  this  woman?  I  entered  into  thy 
house,  thou  gavest  me  no  water  for  my  feet ;  but  she 
with  tears  hath  washed  my  feet,  and  with  her  hair 
hath  wiped  them.  Thou  gavest  me  no  kiss;  but  she, 
since  she  came  in,  hath  not  ceased  to  kiss  my  feet. 
My  head  with  oil  thou  didst  not  anoint ;  but  she  with 
ointment  hath  anointed  my  feet.  Wherefore  I  say 
to  thee:  Many  sins  are  forgiven  her,  because  she 
hath  loved  much.  But  to  whom  less  is  forgiven, 
he  loveth  less." 

Then,  turning  to  Mary  Magdalene,  whose  face  was 
bathed  in  tears,  he  said  in  a  voice  full  of  kindness 
and  of  mercy:     "Thy  sins  are  forgiven  thee." 


106   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

And  those  that  were  at  table  with  Jesus  began  to 
say  to  each  other:  "Who  is  this  that  forgiveth  sins 
also?" 

And  he  said  to  the  woman:  "Thy  faith  hath 
saved  thee,  go  in  peace." 

Mary  Magdalene  ever  afterwards  led  a  life  of 
repentance,  and  we  shall  find  her  following  Jesus  and 
ministering  to  him. 

Jesus  continued  to  journey  through  towns  and 
villages,  everywhere  announcing  the  glad  tidings 
of  salvation,  followed  by  his  twelve  disciples  and  by 
many  whom  he  had  delivered  of  their  infirmities. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    107 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

MIRACLES  AND  PARABLES  OF  JESUS. 

Grandma:  On  one  occasion  a  man  bom  blind 
and  dumb  was  brought  to  Jesus,  and  he  cured  him, 
so  that  the  man  spoke  and  saw. 

All  the  people  were  amazed  at  this  new  miraclca 
and  said  to  each  other:  "Is  not  this  the  son  of 
David?"  And  they  flocked  to  him  to  witness  his 
miracles  and  to  hear  the  words  of  wisdom,  strength, 
and  love  which  fell  from  his  lips.  So  great  was  the 
crowd  that  he  could  not  find  time  to  eat  and  to 
drink.  While  he  was  speaking  to  this  eager  multi- 
tude, a  man  pushed  his  way  through  the  crowd, 
saying,  "Thy  mother  and  thy  brethren  stand  with- 
out, seeking  thee.' 

Louis:  I  thought  our  Lord  was  the  only  son  of 
the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary? 

Grandma:  You  are  quite  right:  Jesus  Christ,  the 
Son  of  God,  was  the  only  child  of  the  Virgin  Mary; 
but  in  Hebrew,  or  in  the  Syrian  tongue,  which  was 
spoken  in  Judea,  cousins  are  called  brothers.  It  is 
so  in  other  countries  besides  Judea.  In  Russia,  for 
instance,  there  is  no  word  for  cousin.  They  say 
"brother  and  sister  once  removed."  Looking  around 


108  THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

at  those  who  sat  with  him,  Jesus  answered  this 
messenger:  "Who  is  my  mother  and  who  are  my 
brethren?  Behold  my  mother  and  my  brethren. 
For  whosoever  shall  do  the  will  of  my  Father  that 
is  in  heaven,  he  is  my  brother  and  sister  and  mother." 

By  these  words  om"  Lord  shows  his  love  for  all 
men  whom  he  came  to  save,  and  especially  his  love 
for  those  who  love  God  and  who  obey  his  law,  and 
for  those  who  leave  riches,  honors,  pleasures  for  his 
sake.     They  are  to  him  mother,  brother,  and  sister. 

Leaving  the  house,  Jesus  took  the  road  leading  to 
the  lake,  and  seated  himself  on  the  shore,  but  the 
multitude  was  so  great  that  he  entered  a  boat  and 
pushed  out  a  little  from  the  land.  Seated  in  this 
boat  the  crowd  could  sec  him  and  hear  him,  and  he 
taught   them   in   parables. 

Henry:     What  is  a  parable? 

Grandma:  As  I  have  already  explained,  a  parable 
is  a  story,  a  tale,  more  serious  than  a  fable,  which  is 
related  to  make  a  truth  clearer  or  to  explain  a  doc- 
trine. In  those  days  it  was  customary  to  teach  by 
means  of  fables  and  parables  containing  a  hidden 
meaning. 

One  of  our  Lord's  parables  which  he  related  to 
the  multitude  is  as  follows:  "The  sower  went  out 
to  sow  his  seed.  And  while  he  soweth,  some  fell 
by  the  wayside;  and  it  was  trodden  down,  and  the 
birds  of  the  air  ate  it  up.  And  some  fell  upon  a 
rock; and  as  soon  as  it  was  sprung  up  it  withered 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    109 

away,  because  it  had  no  moisture.  And  some  fell 
among  thorns;  and  the  thorns  growing  up  with  it, 
choked  it.  And  some  fell  upon  good  ground;  and 
being  sprung  up,  yielded  fruit  a  hundredfold.  " 

Jane:     I  do  not  understand  this  parable. 

Grandma:  I  shall  give  you  the  explanation  our 
Lord  himself  gave  his  disciples,  who  did  not  under- 
stand it  any  better  than  you  do,  and  they  asked: 
"Why  speakest  thou  to  them  in  parables? 

And  Jesus  answered:  "Now  the  parable  is  this: 
The  seed  is  the  word  of  God,  And  they  by  the  way- 
side are  they  that  hear;  then  the  devil  cometh  and 
taketh  the  word  out  of  their  heart,  lest  believing  they 
should  be  saved.  Now  they  upon  the  rock,  are  they 
who,  when  they  hear,  receive  the  word  with  joy;  and 
these  have  no  roots;  for  they  believe  for  a  while,  and 
in  time  of  temptation  they  fall  away.  And  that 
which  fell  among  the  thorns,  are  they  who  have 
heard,  and  going  their  way,  are  choked  with  the 
cares  and  riches  and  pleasures  of  this  life,  and  yield 
no  fruit.  But  he  that  received  the  s^ed  upon  good 
ground,  this  is  he  that  heareth  the  word,  and  under- 
standeth  and  beareth  fruit  and  yieldeth  the  one  a 
hundredfold,  and  another  sixty,  and  another  thirty." 

LitUe  Louis:  What  does  that  mean,  to  yield 
fruit  a  himdredfold? 

Grandma:  This  means  the  fruits  of  the  virtues 
which  you  practise.  For  example,  you  practise 
the   virtue   of   patience,    and   you    become   gentle. 


no  THE  CHILDREN'S   LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

amiable,  and  kindly.  These  virtues  are  the  fruits 
of  your  patience.  And  so  the  good  seed  of  the  word 
of  God,  sown  in  our  hearts,  bears  fruit  which  in- 
creases if  we  are  faithful  in  the  practice  of  virtue. 
And  Jesus  spoke  to  them  another  parable : 
"The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  likened  to  a  man  that 
sowed  good  seed  in  his  field.  But  while  men  were 
asleep,  his  enemy  came  and  oversowed  cockle  among 
the  wheat  and  went  his  way." 

Paul :     And  what  is  cockle  ? 

Grandma:  Cockle  is  a  weed  which  is  frequently 
found  among  the  wheat;  and  which  is  injurious  to  it. 

In  this  parable  the  cockle,  our  Lord  tells  them, 
grew  up  with  the  good  wheat.  "Then  the  servants 
of  the  good  man  of  the  house,  coming,  said  to  him: 
Sir,  didst  thou  not  sow  good  seed  in  thy  field? 
Whence,  then,  hath  it  cockle?  And  he  said  to  them: 
An  enemy  hath  done  this.  And  the  servants  said 
to  him:  Wilt  thou  that  we  go  and  gather  it  up? 
And  he  said:  No;  lest,  perhaps,  gathering  up  the 
cockle,  you  root  up  the  wheat  also  together  with  it. 
Suffer  both  to  grow  until  the  harvest,  and  in  the 
time  of  the  harvest  I  will  say  to  the  reapers :  Gather 
up  first  the  cockle,  and  bind  it  into  bundles  to  burn, 
but  the  wheat  gather  ye  into  my  bam." 

When  our  Lord  had  finished  speaking,  and  had 
dismissed  the  multitude,  who  returned  to  their  own 
homes,  the  disciples  came  to  him,  asking  him  to 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    111 

explain  the  parable  of  the  cockle  in  the  wheat  field. 

Henrietta:  It  does  not  seem  to  me  the  Apostles 
were  very  clever.     They  never  understand  our  Lord. 

Grandma:  The  Apostles  were,  indeed,  ignorant 
men.  It  was  through  God's  great  mercy  and  grace 
that  they  were  changed  and  enlightened  at  Pentecost, 
when  the  Holy  Ghost  came  down  upon  them,  as 
you  will  see  later.  Jesus  replied  to  his  disciples: 
"He  that  soweth  the  good  seed  is  the  Son  of  man. 
And  the  field  is  the  world.  And  the  good  seed  are 
the  children  of  the  kingdom.  And  the  cockle 
are  the  children  of  the  wicked  one.  And  the  enemy 
that  sowed  them  is  the  devil.  But  the  harvest  is 
the  end  of  the  world.  And  the  reapers  are  the  angels. 
Even  as  cockle,  therefore,  is  gathered  up,  and  burnt 
with  fire;  so  shall  it  be  at  the  end  of  the  world.  The 
Son  of  man  shall  send  his  angels,  and  they  shall 
gather  out  of  his  kingdom  all  scandals,  and  them  that 
work  iniquity.  And  shall  cast  them  into  the  furnace 
of  fire :  there  shall  be  weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth. 
Then  shall  the  just  shine  as  the  sun,  in  the  king- 
dom of  their  Father." 

Valentine:    What  means  iniquity? 

Grandma:  Iniquity  is  evil.  Our  Lord  here  tells 
us  that  those  who  do  evil,  who  commit  sins,  will  not 
enter  heaven,  but  will  be  cast  into  hell. 

Our  Lord  gave  the  multitude  another  parable 
to  explain  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  This  one  you 
can  readily  understand : 


112   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

"The  Kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  to  a  net  cast  into 
the  sea,  and  gathering  together  all  kinds  of  fishes. 
Which,  when  it  was  filled,  they  drew  out,  and  sitting 
by  the  shore,  they  chose  out  the  good  into  vessels, 
but  the  bad  they  cast  forth.  So  shalt  it  be  at  the  end 
of  the  world.  The  angels  shall  go  out,  and  shall 
separate  the  wicked  from  among  the  just.  And 
shall  cast  them  into  the  furnace  of  fire:  there  shall 
be  weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth." 

Louis:  It  seems  to  me  our  Lord  so  often  speaks 
of  "weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth." 

Grandma:  If  our  merciful  Lord  often  speaks 
of  the  punishment  of  hell,  it  is  in  order  to  impress 
upon  his  hearers  all  the  horror  of  being  lost,  and  to 
urge  them  to  give  up  evil  and  do  good,  that  they 
may  avoid  this  eternal  separation  from  God. 

When  our  Lord  had  finished  these  parables,  he 
said  to  them:  "Have  ye  understood  these  things? 
And  they  said  to  him:     Yea." 

Then  our  Lord  set  out  to  preach  in  other  cities. 
Seeing  how  great  was  the  multitude  around  him,  he 
ordered  his  disciples  to  row  over  to  the  other  side 
of  the  Lake  of  Genesareth. 

Then  a  Doctor  of  the  Law,  drawing  near,  said  to 
him:  "Master,  I  will  follow  thee  withersoever  thou 
shalt  go."  And  Jesus  said  to  liim:  "The  foxes 
have  holes,  and  the  birds  of  the  air  nests;  but  the 
Son  of  man  hath  not  where  to  lay  his  head."  By 
these  words  our  Lord  told  the  scribes  and  Doctors 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    113 

of  the  Law  that  he  had  no  riches  to  ofifer  his  fol- 
lowers. The  life  of  Christ  on  earth  was  a  life  of 
poverty.  Turning  to  his  disciples  our  Lord  said* 
"Let  us  pass  over  to  the  other  side." 


114   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

THE  QUIETING  OF  THE  TEMPEST. 

Grandma:  The  disciples,  having  dismissed  the 
multitude,  rowed  out  into  the  lake  with  our  Lord  on 
board  their  boat.  Other  barks  followed.  Then 
there  arose  a  great  storm,  so  great  that  the  waves 
washed  over  the  little  bark,  and  threatened  to 
engulf  it.  Jesus  seated  in  the  stem,  with  his  head 
on  the  pilot's  pillow,  slept,  wearied  with  the  toils 
of  the  day. 

Li ttle  Louis :     Wliat  is  the  stem  ? 

Grandma:  The  stern  is  the  hind  part  of  a  ship, 
the  bow  is  the  fore  part.  Alarmed  at  the  raging  of 
the  storm,  the  disciples  wakened  Jesus,  and  said  to 
him  in  great  excitement : 

"Master,  doth  it  not  concern  thee  that  we  perish? 
And  rising  up,  he  rebuked  the  wind  and  said  to  the 
sea:  Peace,  be  still.  And  the  wind  ceased,  and 
there  was  made  a  great  calm.  And  he  said  to  them: 
Why  are  you  fearful?     Have  ye  not  faith  yet?" 

But  the  disciples  were  filled  with  fear  and  wonder, 
"and  they  said  to  one  another:  Who  is  this,  think 
you,  that  he  commandeth  both  the  winds  and  the 
sea,  and  they  obey  him?" 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    115 

Henry:  What,  the  disciples  did  not  yet  under- 
stand that  Jesus  was  the  Son  of  God? 

Grandma:  They  had  the  knowledge  that  Christ 
was  the  Son  of  God,  but  were  not  yet  firm  in  their 
belief,  and  each  new  miracle  that  Jesus  performed 
surprised  and  frightened  them.  Before  and  after 
these  miracles,  which  showed  his  divine  power,  they 
saw  our  Lord  poor,  humble,  often  weary,  a  man  of 
sorrow,  and  they  failed  to  realize  that  the  weakness 
of  the  Son  of  man  was  combined  v/ith  the  power  of 
the  Son  of  God. 


116   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

THE  CURE  OF  THE  MAN  POSSESSED  OF  AN  EVIL  SPIRIT. 

Grandma:  After  the  stilling  of  the  tempest, 
Jesus  and  his  disciples  landed  in  Gadara  on  the 
opposite   shore   of  Galilee. 

Hardly  had  Jesus  set  foot  upon  this  land,  when 
there  came  rushing  to  him  a  man  possessed  of  an 
evil  spirit,  who  tormented  him  sorely.  The  evil 
spirit  had  made  this  man  so  violent  that  he  could 
not  be  bound,  even  with  iron  chains.  He  dwelt 
in  the  caves  among  the  hills,  a  wild  creature,  feared 
and  avoided  by  all  the  people.  Throwing  himself 
at  the  feet  of  Christ  the  wretched  demoniac  cried 
out:  "What  have  I  to  do  with  thee,  Jesus,  the 
Son  of  the  Most  High  God?  I  beseech  thee  do  not 
torment  me."  And  Jesus  commanded  the  evil 
spirit  saying:  "Go  out  of  the  man,  thou  unclean 
spirit." 

And  Jesus  questioned  him :  ' '  What  is  thy  name  ? ' ' 
The  evil  spirit  replied:  "My  name  is  Legion;  for 
we  are  many." 

There  was  on  the  mountain  side  a  herd  of  swine 
feeding,  and  the  evil  spirits  besought  our  Lord  that 


THE  CHILDREN'S  UFE  OE  CHRIST    117 

they  might  be  permitted  to  enter  into  the  swine,  and 
Jesus  permitted  it. 

"The  devils,  therefore,  went  out  of  the  man  and 
entered  into  the  swine;  and  the  herd  ran  violently 
down  a  steep  place  into  the  lake,  and  were  drowned." 
The  men  who  kept  these  herds  were  frightened,  and 
they  fled  to  the  city  and  told  what  had  happened. 

And  the  men  from  the  city,  and  those  who  owned 
the  swine,  "came  to  Jesus,  and  they  found  the  man, 
out  of  whom  the  devils  had  departed,  sitting  at  his 
feet,  clothed,  and  in  his  right  mind;  and  they  were 
afraid."  And  those  standing  around,  who  had 
witnessed  the  miracle,  related  what  had  happened; 
and  these  men  besought  Jesus  that  he  would  leave 
their  country. 

Jane:  How  foolish  these  people  are:  instead  of 
asking  Jesus  to  stay  with  them,  they  beg  him  to 
leave ! 

Grandma:  These  men  of  Gadara  did  what  all 
men  do  who  are  not  good  Christians,  and  who 
think  only  of  the  goods  of  this  world.  They  thought 
only  of  the  loss  of  their  swine.  They  failed  to  under- 
stand that  the  presence  of  our  Lord  was  to  them 
more  useful  and  more  profitable  than  their  herds 
could  possibly  be. 

Louis:    I  don't  see  how  other  men  do  this. 

Grandma:  They  drive  Jesus  out  of  their  hearts 
when  they  prefer  their  pride,  their  greed,  their 
anger,  their  indolence  to  his  presence  within  them. 


118  THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

For  our  Lord  cannot  dwell  in  our  hearts  when  we 
prefer  these  sins  to  the  practice  of  the  virtues  of 
charity,  gentleness,  humility,  and  mortification. 

When  Jesus  embarked  to  return  to  Galilee  the 
man  whom  he  had  delivered  from  the  power  of  the 
evil  one,  begged  to  accompany  him.  The  Lord 
would  not  permit  it,  but  said  to  him:  "Return  to 
thy  house  and  to  thy  friends  and  tell  them  how  God 
hath  done  great  things  for  thee,  and  hath  had  mercy 
on  thee." 

Jack:  Why  did  not  our  Lord  let  this  poor  man 
go  with  him? 

Grandma:  Because  our  Lord  knew  that  this 
man  would  be  more  useful  to  the  glory  of  God  in  his 
own  country,  by  making  known  this  great  miracle, 
than  by  joining  the  company  of  his  disciples.  The 
man,  therefore,  went  his  way,  and  published  in  all 
the  cities  around  what  Jesus  had  done  for  him,"and 
all  men  wondered." 


Christ   Raising  the   Daughter  of  Jairus 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    119 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

THE  DAUGHTER  OF  JAIRUS. 

Grandma:  Jesus,  having  crossed  over  the  Lake 
of  Genesareth  to  the  land,  was  met  by  an  eager 
crowd,  who  had  gathered  on  the  shore  to  greet  him. 
Among  the  multitude  was  a  chief  of  the  synagogue 
named  Jairus.  He  ran  eagerly  to  Christ,  and  throw- 
ing himself  at  his  feet,  distracted  with  grief,  he 
poured  out  his  prayer,  saying:  "My  daughter  is  at 
the  point  of  death,  come,  lay  thy  hand  upon  her,  that 
she  may  be  safe,  and  may  live." 

Moved  with  pity,  Jesus  followed  Jairus.  Behind 
him,  around  him,  thronged  the  crowd.  In  this 
multitude  was  a  poor  woman  who  had  been  suffering 
with  a  loss  of  blood  for  twelve  years.  She  had 
consulted  many  physicians,  who  were  unable  to 
cure  her.  She  had  spent  all  her  money  seeking 
health,  and  yet  was  growing  worse  rather  than 
better. 

Having  heard  of  the  miracles  of  Jesus,  she  came 
to  him  in  the  crowd  unnoticed  and  touched  his 
garment,  for  she  had  said  to  herself:  "If  I  but 
touch  the  hem  of  his  garment,  I  shall  be  healed." 


120   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

And  immediately  she  felt  in  her  body  that  she  was 
cured  of  the  evil." 

No  one  had  noticed  her,  but  Jesus  knew  that  a 
grace  had  gone  out  from  him.  He  turned  to  the 
crowd  and  said:  "Who  hath  touched  my  gar- 
ments?" "And  his  disciples  said  to  him:  Thou 
seest  the  multitude  thronging  thee,  and  say  est  thou 
who  hath  touched  me?"  But  our  Lord  looked 
around  the  crowd  seeking  her  whom  he  had  healed. 
The  poor  woman,  ashamed,  and  full  of  fear,  in  spite 
of  her  great  happiness,  meeting  the  eyes  of  Christ, 
fell  trembling  at  his  feet,  and  told  before  all  the 
people  her  illness  and  her  cure.  Jesus  said  to  her : 
"Daughter,  thy  faith  hath  made  thee  whole;  go  in 
peace,  and  be  thou  whole  of  thy  disease." 

While  he  was  yet  speaking,  some  of  the  servants  of 
Jairus  came  hurrying  to  him,  saying :  ' ' Thy  daughter 
is  dead;  why  dost  thou  trouble  the  Master  any 
longer?" 

But  Jesus,  having  overheard  the  servant,  said  to 
the  ruler  of  the  synagogue :  "Fear  not ;  only  believe, 
and  she  shall  be  safe."  And  he  continued  on  his 
way  to  the  house  of  Jairus.  Here  he  found  assembled 
a  great  crowd  of  mourners,  wailing  and  weeping 
and  uttering  great  cries  of  distress;  for  it  was  cus- 
tomary among  the  Jews  to  lament  the  dead  loudly 
to  show  their  sympathy  for  the  parents  of  the 
deceased. 

Our  Lord  said  to  them:     "Why  make  this  ado. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    121 

and  weep?  the  damsel  is  not  dead,  but  sleepeth." 
And  the  mourners  mocked  him.  But  Jesus,  taking 
with  him  Peter,  and  James,  and  John,  and  the  father 
and  mother  of  the  young  girl,  went  into  the  darkened 
room.  Here,  ready  for  burial,  lay  the  body  of  a 
twelve-year-old  maiden.  Taking  her  by  the  hand, 
Jesus  said  to  her:  "Talitha  cumi."  Which  means: 
"Damsel,  I  say  to  thee,  arise.  And  immediately 
the  young  girl  rose  up,  and  walked." 

And  Jesus  bade  them  give  her  something  to  eat. 
All  they  who  had  seen  this  miracle  were  in  admira- 
tion and  in  astonishment,  and  Jesus  forbade  them 
to  tell  any  one.  It  was  not  long,  however,  before 
all  the  country  round  knew  of  this  miracle. 

Louis:  How  did  people  know  it,  since  our  Lord 
had  forbidden  them  to  tell  of  it? 

Grandma:  Because,  no  doubt,  in  spite  of  his 
prohibition,  people  spoke  of  this  miracle — some 
through  admiration,  some  through  indiscertion.  In 
those  days,  you  see,  as  to-day,  our  Lord  was  not 
always  obeyed. 


122    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

THE  CURING  OF  THE  BUND  AND  THE  DUMfe. 

Grandma:  As  Jesus  left  the  house  of  Jairus  two 
blind  men  followed  him  crying  out:  "Have  mercy 
on  us,  O  Son  of  David!"  When  Jesus  reached  the 
house  where  he  dwelt  they  drew  near,  and  Christ, 
full  of  pity  for  their  affliction,  turned  to  them  and 
said:  "Do  you  believe  that  I  can  do  this  for  you? 
They  said  to  him:  Yea,  Lord.  Then  he  touched 
their  eyes,  saying:  According  to  your  faith,  be  it 
done  unto  you.  And  their  eyes  were  opened." 
And  Jesus  said:     "See  that  no  man  know  this." 

But  on  leaving  our  Lord,  they  spread  the  good 
news  of  their  cure  far  and  wide. 

Jack:     And  did  our  Lord  punish  them? 

Grandma:  The  Gospel  does  not  indicate  that  our 
Lord  reproached  them ;  and  it  is  more  than  likely  he 
did  not  do  so. 

Jack:  I  don't  understand  how  it  is  that  Jesus 
forbids  these  blind  men  to  tell  of  their  cure,  and 
when  they  disobey  him,  they  are  not  punished.  Yet, 
I  remember  you  told  us  how  when  Moses  disobeyed 
God  by  striking  the  rock  twice,  for  the  water  to  gush 
out,  instead  of  striking  it  only  once,  as  God  had 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    123 

commanded  him,  he  was  severely  punished,  and  not 
allowed  to  enter  the  promised  land. 

Grandma:  I  shall  show  you  the  difference  be- 
tween the  disobedience  of  Moses  and  that  of  these 
blind  men.  Moses  disobeyed  from  the  mistrust  of 
God.  One  blow  of  his  rod  seemed  to  him  insufficient, 
in  spite  of  God's  command.  Now,  the  blind  men 
disobeyed  through  their  gratitude  and  love.  They 
longed  to  make  known  to  their  countrymen  the 
power  and  goodness  of  Christ.  And  in  their  eager- 
ness they  disobeyed.  We  frequently  see  such  cases 
of  disobedience,  and  nowhere  do  we  see  that  our 
Lord  was  angry.  Our  Lord  readily  forgives  a  fault 
that  springs  from  no  evil  cause,  but  from  zeal  ill- 
directed  or  unwise. 

Seeing  the  cure  of  the  blind  men,  they  brought  to 
Christ  a  man  possessed  of  a  dumb  devil  that  he 
might  heal  him,  also. 

Paul:     What  is  a  dumb  devil? 

Grandma:  It  was  an  evil  spirit  which  possessed 
the  man  so  that  he  could  not  speak.  As  soon  as  our 
Lord  had  driven  out  the  devil,  the  man  spoke  and 
the  people  were  in  admiration  and  cried  out :  * '  Never 
was  the  like  seen  in  Israel!' 

But  the  Pharisees,  who  feared  that  this  miracle 
would  gain  many  followers  to  Christ,  said  to  the 
people  that  by  the  aid  of  the  devil  he  cast  out  the 
devils. 

Jane :     And  did  the  people  believe  this  ? 


124  THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Grandma:  No  doubt  some  believed  it.  For  is 
it  not  unfortunately  true  that  even  in  our  own  days 
we  are  more  disposed  to  believe  evil  than  good  of 
others? 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    125 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

CHRIST   VISITS  NAZARETH. 

Grandma:  Jesus  left  this  neighborhood  to  jour- 
ney in  Galilee.  He  went  first  to  his  own  city  of 
Nazareth,  where  he  had  lived  with  Mary  and  Joseph 
through  all  his  childhood  and  youth.  On  the 
Sabbath  day  he  preached  in  the  synagogue.  A 
large  number  gathered  to  hear  him,  and  they  were 
amazed  at  his  eloquence  and  power.  And  they 
siaid  to  one  another:  "How  came  this  man  by  this 
wisdom  and  miracles?  Is  not  his  mother  called 
Mary,  and  his  brethren  James  and  Joseph  and 
Simon  and  Jude?" 

They  referred  to  his  cousins,  as  I  have  already 
explained  to  you.  And  they  added:  "Are  not  his 
sisters  here  amongst  us?"  In  Jesus,  whom  they 
knew  to  be  the  Son  of  Mary  and  Joseph  the  carpenter, 
they  refused  to  recognize  the  Messias.  Their  pride 
revolted,  and  they  would  not  believe  he  had  the 
power  to  teach  them.  "And  Jesus  said  to  them:  A 
prophet  is  not  without  honor,  save  in  his  own 
country,  and  in  his  own  house."  "And  he  wrought 
not  many  miracles  there  because  of  their  unbelief." 

Valentine:     Why  did  he  not  perform  miracles? 


126  THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Grandma:  Because  when  our  Lord  healed  the 
sick  and  performed  miracles  on  the  afflicted  in  body, 
he  expected  and  looked  for  faith  in  the  soul.  He 
looked  for  sorrow  for  past  sins  and  purpose  of  amend- 
ment. Here  in  Nazareth  he  failed  to  find  these 
good  dispositions;  on  the  contrary,  they  were  un- 
believing, and,  therefore,  after  healing  a  few  of 
their  sick,  he  left  his  own  city,  never  to  return  within 
its  ungrateful  walls. 

But  our  Lord  went  into  the  neighboring  cities, 
preaching  everywhere  and  healing  the  sick. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE   OF  CHRIST    127 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

THE  MISSION  OF  THE  APOSTLES. 

Grandma:  Wherever  Christ  journeyed  he  found 
the  people  as  sheep  without  a  shepherd,  willing  and 
eager  to  listen  to  the  word  of  God,  but  without 
teachers  to  show  them  the  right  way.  And  calling 
to  him  his  twelve  disciples  Christ  sent  them  two  by 
two  to  preach  in  all  that  country.  He  gave  them 
power  over  the  unclean  spirits. 

Louis:     What  are  imclean  spirits? 

Grandma:  These  are  the  spirits  of  evil,  the 
demons.  Our  Lord  commanded  his  disciples  to 
carry  with  them  on  their  journey ings,  "neither  staff, 
nor  scrip,  nor  bread,  nor  money,  nor  two  coats." 

Mary  Theresa:  And  how  did  these  poor  Apostles 
live? 

Grandma:  They  lived  on  alms.  Our  Lord  did 
for  them  what  he  does  everyday  for  those  who 
devote  themselves  to  his  service,  and  who  trust  in 
him.  To  these,  his  faithful  friends,  he  inclines  the 
hearts  of  those  who  listen  to  the  word  of  God,  of 
those  who  desire  to  know  the  truth  and  to  do  good. 

To-day  we  have  the  Sisters  of  Charity;  the  Little 
Sisters  of  the   Poor;  the   Franciscans,   and  many 


128   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

others;  who,  like  the  Apostles,  possess  nothing  and 
live  on  alms. 

Our  Lord  in  thus  sending  out  his  Apostles,  poor 
in  all  thmgs  and  depending  on  charity,  gave  the  first 
example  of  the  religious  life  with  its  practice  of  holy 
poverty.  "And  he  said  to  them:  Wheresoever 
you  shall  enter  into  a  house,  there  abide  till  you 
depart  from  that  place.  And  when  you  come  into 
the  house  salute  it,  saying:  Peace  be  to  this  house. 
.  .  .  And  whosoever  shall  not  receive  you,  nor 
hear  your  words,  going  forth  from  thence,  shake 
off  the  dust  from  your  feet." 

Henrietta:  Why  should  they  shake  off  the  dust 
from  their  feet  ? 

Grandma:  This  was  as  a  sign  of  malediction, 
the  opposite  of  blessing,  or  benediction.  It  was  as 
if  to  say:  You  refuse  to  receive  us,  the  servants  of 
God,  and  you  will  be  punished;  and  since  you  refuse 
us  the  bread  and  shelter  we  stand  in  need  of,  we  shall 
keep  nothing  of  yours,  not  even  the  dust  of  your 
home  which  has  gathered  on  our  feet.  To  merit 
the  blessing  of  God  we  must  be  always  polite  and 
charitable  to  the  religious  who  are  God's  servants, 
and  who  came  to  us  begging  alms  in  his  name  for  a 
church,  a  school,  a  convent,  a  charity.  Give  little 
if  you  have  but  little,  but  do  not  refuse  what  is  asked 
in  the  name  of  God,  and  God's  blessing  will  follow 
your  charity. 

Our  Lord  added:     "Behold  I  send  you  as  sheep 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    129 

in  the  midst  of  wolves.  Be  ye,  therefore,  wise  as 
serpents  and  simple  as  doves." 

And  he  told  them  that  they  would  be  persecuted 
and  hated  for  his  sake,  that  they  would  be  obliged 
to  flee  from  city  to  city  to  preach  the  kingdom  of 
God.  For,  said  Jesus:  "I  came  not  to  send  peace, 
but  the  sword." 

Louis:     What  does  that  mean? 

Grandma :  Our  Lord  here  foretells  the  persecution 
of  his  servants.  Those  whom  his  disciples  converted 
to  Christianity  would  be  persecuted  by  the  un- 
believers, tortured,  and  even  put  to  death  for  their 
belief  in  Christ  Jesus. 

Our  Lord  added:  "He  that  receiveth  you, 
receiveth  me.  .  .  .  And  whosoever  shall  give 
to  drink  to  one  of  these  little  ones  a  cup  of  cold  water 
in  the  name  of  a  disciple,  he  shall  not  lose  his  re- 
ward." 

The  Apostles,  therefore,  set  out  according  to  the 
orders  of  the  Master.  Everywhere  they  went,  they 
preached  repentance  for  sins,  charity  towards  all 
men,  and  love  of  one  another  for  the  sake  of  Christ. 
Wherefore,  when  we  Christians  give  alms  we  give  to 
Christ  Jesus  himself.  When  we  give  in  this  spirit, 
our  Lord  accepts  our  charity  and  rewards  us  eternally. 

And  the  Apostles  "cast  out  many  devils,  and 
anointed  with  oil  many  that  were  sick,  and  healed 
them." 

Valentine :     Why  did  they  anoint  the  sick  with  oil? 


130   THE  CHILDREN'vS  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Grandma:  It  was  oil  which  they  had  blessed  in 
the  name  of  Jesus.  No  doubt  this  was  an  image  of 
Extreme  Unction.  Oil  represents  the  unction  and 
healing  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Mary  Theresa:     What   is  Extreme   Unction? 

Grandma:  It  is  a  sacrament  instituted  by  our 
Lord,  for  the  dying,  to  give  grace  to  those  about  to 
die,  and  to  remit  the  sins  they  have  committed. 

Valentine :     What  is  a  sacrament  ? 

Grandma:  A  sacrament  is  an  outward  sign 
instituted  by  Christ,  to  give  grace,  to  scantify  us  in 
all  the  most  important  events  of  our  life. 

Valentine:     What  important  events  for  instance? 

Grandma:  First:  At  our  birth  we  are  regenerated 
by  Baptism. 

Second:  When  we  reach  the  age  of  reason  we  are 
sanctified  and  strengthened  by  Confirmation. 

Third:  As  we  grow  older  our  souls  are  nourished 
and  made  to  live  in  Christ  by  Holy  Communion. 

Fourth:  When  we  have  sinned  we  are  forgiven 
and  reconciled  by  confession,  or,  as  it  is  called,  the 
sacrament  of  Penance. 

Fifth:  Extreme  Unction  strengthens  us  and  pre- 
pares us  when  we  are  about  to  die. 

Sixth:  Holy  Orders  is  the  sacrament  in  which  the 
powers  of  the  priesthood  are  conferred. 

Seventh:  Matrimony  unites  man  and  woman  in 
indissoluble  wedlock,  and  gives  to  that  union  the 
special  blessing  of  God 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    131 

The  first  five  sacraments  are  for  all  and  every  one. 
The  last  two,  Holy  Orders  and  Matrimony,  for  those 
only  who  choose  as  a  state  of  life  the  priesthood  or 
the  scate  of  marriage. 


1.32    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XL. 

BEHEADING  OF  JOHN  THE  BAPTIST. 

Grandma:  To-day,  my  children,  I  shall  have  to 
relate  to  you  an  incident  that  will  shock  and  scan- 
dalize you.  I  shall  have  to  tell  you  of  the  cruelty 
of  Herod,  the  King. 

Louis:  The  King  Herod  who  murdered  the  little 
innocent  babies  when  Jesus  was  bom  ? 

Grandma:  No;  this  Herod  had  long  since  died 
and  been  succeeded  by  Archelaus,  whom  you  recall 
reigned  in  his  stead  when  Joseph  brought  back  the 
Child  Jesus  from  Egypt. 

Archelaus  reigned  only  one  year,  and  in  turn  was 
succeeded  by  his  wicked  brother,  Herod  the  Second. 
Some  time  before  the  incident  I  am  about  to  relate, 
Herod  ordered  John  the  Baptist  to  be  bound  and 
cast  into  prison. 

Jack:  How  dreadful!  Why  did  Herod  treat 
John  the  Baptist  so  cruelly? 

Grandma:  Herodias,  the  sister-in-law  of  Herod, 
had  induced  him  to  imprison  John,  whom  she  hated. 

Louis:     Why  did  Herodias  hate  John? 

Grandma:  John  the  Baptist,  fearing  no  man,  had 
publicy  warned  the  King  that  the  law  forbade  him 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    133 

to  marry  Herodias,  his  sister-in-law,  while  Philip, 
the  husband  of  Herodias,  still  lived.  However, 
Herodias,  full  of  ambition — 

Henry :     What  is  ambition  ? 

Grandma:  To  be  ambitious  is  to  love  power  and 
riches  and  honors.  It  is  to  desire  to  be  more  and  to 
have  more  than  one  already  possesses. 

Herodias  was  ambitious  to  be  made  Queen,  and 
St.  John  rightly  and  fearlessly  prevented  it.  She 
sought  means,  therefore,  to  have  the  Baptist  put  to 
death.  That  he  was  bound  and  imprisoned  did  not 
satisfy  her  wicked  desires.  One  day  King  Herod 
gave  a  great  feast.  It  was  his  birthday,  and  he 
celebrated  it  with  great  pomp.  To  this  feast,  he 
invited  all  the  great  men  of  the  court  and  their 
wives  and  the  officers  of  his  army. 

The  daughter  of  Herodias  was  among  the  invited 
guests,  and  to  entertain  the  company  she  danced. 
She  danced  so  well  that  Herod  and  his  guests  were 
delighted;  and  Herod,  wishing  to  reward  her,  called 
her  and  said:  "Ask  of  me  what  thou  wilt,  and  I  will 
will  give  it  thee."  And  he  swore  that  he  would  give 
her  whatsoever  she  would  ask,  even  though  she 
asked  for  half  of  his  kingdom. 

The  young  woman  consulted  with  her  mother 
what  she  should  ask  the  King,  and  Herodias,  seizing 
this  opportunity  to  obtain  what  she  wished  of  Herod, 
bid  her  daughter  ask  for  the  head  of  John  the 
Baptist. 


134  THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

The  young  woman,  who  was  cruel  and  wicked  as 
was  her  mother,  returned  to  the  banquet  hall  where 
they  all  sat  at  table,  and  said  to  the  King:  "Give 
me  here  in  a  dish  the  head  of  John  the  Baptist." 
This  horrible  request  struck  the  King  with  sadness. 

Though  his  conscience  reproached  him,  he  had 
promised  before  them  all  to  give  her  what  she  asked, 
and  he  was  ashamed  to  refuse  her  request.  He 
ordered,  therefore,  one  of  his  soldiers  to  behead 
John  the  Baptist  in  his  prison.  "And  his  head  was 
brought  in  a  dish ;  and  it  was  given  to  the  damsel, 
and  she  brought  it  to  her  mother." 

The  disciples  of  John,  hearing  of  this,  came  and 
took  his  body  and  laid  it  in  a  tomb.  Tradition  tells 
us  that  later  the  head  of  the  Baptist  was  found 
where  it  had  been  thrown,  and  that  it  was  buried 
in  the  tomb  where  his  body  had  long  been  interred. 

Paid :     What  is  a  tradition  ? 

Grandma:  A  tradition  is  the  account  of  some 
event  which  happened  in  time  past,  which  was  not 
written  down,  but  was  told  by  word  of  mouth.  An 
incident,  for  example,  is  witnessed  by  a  number  of 
people,  and  they  tell  their  neighbors  what  they  have 
seen  and  heard,  and  these  friends  tell  their  children, 
who,  as  they  grow  older,  relate  what  was  told  them 
in  their  childhood ;  and  so  a  truth  comes  down  to  us 
through  the  centuries. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    135 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

THE    FEEDING   OF    THE    MULTITUDE   IN   THE    DESERT. 

Grandma:  The  Apostles  whom  our  Lord  had 
sent  out  to  teach  the  people,  returned  to  give  him 
an  account  of  their  labors.  "Come  apart  into  a 
desert  place  and  rest  a  little,"  Christ  said  to  them, 
"for  there  were  so  many  coming  and  going  that  they 
had  not  so  much  as  time  to  eat." 

And  entering  one  of  the  barks  which  lay  anchored 
nearby,  they  crossed  the  sea  of  Tiberias,  to  a  desert 
place  beyond  the  lake.  When  the  multitude  saw 
Jesus  set  sail  to  cross  the  lake,  the  news  of  his  going 
spread  far  and  wide,  and  from  the  little  towns  and 
villages  round  about  the  people  flocked  to  the 
opposite  side  of  the  lake  to  meet  our  Lord  as  he 
landed. 

When  Christ  stepped  from  the  bark  with  his 
disciples  there  they  found  the  multitude  eagerly 
awaiting  his  coming.  Jesus  took  pity  on  this 
crowd,  eager  to  hear  his  word,  for  they  were  as  sheep 
without  a  shepherd,  and  forgetting  his  fatigue,  he 
spoke  to  them  for  a  long  time  of  the  kingdom  of  God. 

It  began  to  grow  late  and  the  disciples  said  to 
Christ:     "Send  away  the  multitude,  that  going  into 


136    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

the  towns  and  villages  round  about  they  may  lodge 
and  get  victuals,  for  we  are  here  in  a  desert  place." 

"But  he  said  to  them:  Give  you  them  to  eat." 
Philip  answering  said  to  our  Lord:  "A  hundred 
pennyworth  of  bread  is  not  sufficient  for  them,  that 
every  one  may  take  a  little."  And  Jesus  said  to  his 
disciples:  "How  many  loaves  have  you?  go  and 
see."  Andrew,  Simon  Peter's  brother,  returned, 
saying:  "There  is  a  boy  here  that  hath  five  barley 
loaves  and  two  fishes,  but  what  is  that  among  so 
many?"  And  Jesus  ordered  his  disciples  to  make 
the  people  sit  in  groups  on  the  green  grass.  The 
multitude  numbered  five  thousand  men  alone,  with 
many   women   and   children. 

Christ  then  took  in  his  hands  the  five  loaves  and 
the  two  fishes  and  "looking  up  to  heaven  he  blessed 
and  broke  the  loaves  and  gave  them  to  his  disciples" 
to  distribute  among  the  people,  "and  the  two  fishes 
he  divided  among  them  all."  And  the  Apostles 
distributed  the  loaves  and  fishes  "and  they  all  did 
eat  and  had  their  fill." 

Jack:     How  was  that  possible ? 

Grandma:  This  was  not  only  possible  but  easy 
for  our  Lord  to  accomplish.  You  know  he  was  God, 
the  Creator  of  all  things.  He  multiplied  and  in- 
creased the  bread  and  fishes,  as  the  Apostles  dis- 
tributed them,  just  as  he  created  the  fishes  that 
swim  in  the  sea.  When  all  had  been  satisfied,  the 
disciples  "took  up  the  leavings,  twelve  full  baskets 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    137 

of  fragments."  The  people  seeing  this  miracle  said 
to  one  another:  "This  is  of  a  truth  the  prophet 
that  is  to  come  into  the  world." 

And  Jesus  sent  his  disciples  across  the  lake  in  the 
boat  to  await  his  coming,  "and  having  dismissed 
the  multitude  he  went  up  to  the  mountain  to  pray." 


138   THK  CHILDRKN'S  UFK  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER    XLII. 

CHRIST  WALKS  UPON  THE  WATER. 

Grandma:  Our  Lord,  having  dismissed  the  mul- 
titude, went  up  alone  to  the  mountain  to  pray. 

Madeleine:  Grandma,  one  thing  which  surprises 
me  is  that  our  Lord  prayed  so  frequently.  Why  did 
he  pray?  To  whom  did  he  pray,  since  he  was  God 
and  equal  to  his  Father? 

Grandma:  As  Christ  was  true  man  as  well  as 
true  God,  Christ  could  pray  to  his  Father.  He 
prayed,  first,  to  give  us  the  example  of  prayer. 
Secondly,  he  prayed  to  adore  God  his  Father,  to 
thank  him,  to  supplicate  him,  to  beg  of  him  forgive- 
ness and  mercy  in  the  name  of  all  mankind. 

As  I  was  saying,  Christ  withdrew  to  pray,  while 
his  disciples  sailed  towards  Capernaum,  there  to 
await  his  coming.  In  the  meantime  a  great  storm 
arose  and  their  bark  was  tossed  by  the  waves.  All 
night  they  rowed,  but  they  could  make  no  headway. 
Jesus,  seeing  his  disciples  struggling  with  wind  and 
waves — 

Valentine:  How  could  Jesus  see  them  from  the 
mountain  where  he  was  praying? 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    139 

Grandma:  With  the  power  which  belongs  to  God 
who  sees  all  things,  Christ  saw  the  ship  out  on  the 
lake  of  Tiberius.  Seeing  their  danger  he  went  to 
their  help,  walking  on  the  water.  The  disciples 
seeing  Jesus  coming  to  them  on  the  water,  thought 
they  saw  an  apparition,  and  they  were  frightened. 
But  immediately  he  spoke  to  them  saying:  "Be  of 
good  heart,  it  is  I,  fear  not." 

Peter  answered  saying:  "Lord,  if  it  be  thou,  bid 
me  come  to  thee  upon  the  waters."  "Come,"  said 
Jesus,  and  Peter  getting  out  of  the  boat  walked  on 
the  water  to  go  to  his  master.  But  suddenly,  the 
wind  blowing  with  greater  violence,  Peter  was 
frightened  and  he  began  to  sink  and  he  cried  out: 
"Lord,  save  me."  "And  immediately  Jesus,  stretch- 
ing forth  his  hand,  took  hold  of  him  and  said  to 
him:     O  thou  of  little  faith,  why  didst  thou  doubt?" 

Henry:  I  can  understand  how  frightened 
St.  Peter  was.  I  would  have  been  frightened  too  in 
his  place. 

Grandma :  And  it  would  have  been  wrong  of  you, 
as  it  was  of  St.  Peter.  He  began  to  sink  only  when 
he  began  to  be  afraid.  Doubting  the  power  of 
Christ  to  hold  him  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  he 
began  to  fear  and  he  sank.  If  Peter  had  more  faith, 
he  would  have  known  he  was  safe.  He  doubted, 
and  he  had  witnessed  so  many  miracles  showing  the 
power  of  Christ.  Only  a  few  days  before  he  had  seen 
five  barley  loaves  and  two  fishes  multiplied  to  feed 


140    THE  CHILURKN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

five  thousand  people !  Christ  punished  his  want  of 
faith,  and  at  the  same  time  increased  his  faith,  by 
permitting  him  to  sink.  Fortunately  he  called  on 
Clu^ist  at  once  to  save  him. 

Like  St.  Peter,  when  we  feel  inclined  to  sin,  near 
to  sinking  under  temptation,  we  should  call  on  Jesus 
for  help.  He  will  always  come  to  our  aid,  as  he 
did  to  St.  Peter's.  He  held  out  his  hand  and  helped 
him  into  the  boat,  and  the  storm  ceased  immediately. 

The  disciples  were  amazed  at  this  miracle.  They 
were  so  blind  of  heart,  these  disciples!  They  under- 
stood so  faintly  who  our  Lord  was.  The  miracle  of 
the  loaves  and  fishes  had  not  opened  their  eyes.  But 
after  having  seen  him  walk  on  the  waters  and  quiet 
the  tempest,  they  drew  near  to  Jesus  and  adored  him 
saying:     "Indeed,  thou  art  the  Son  of  God." 

Having  crossed  the  lake,  they  landed  in  the 
country  of  Genesareth. 

No  sooner  had  Christ  landed,  than  the  good  news 
spread  far  and  wide.  The  people  flocked  to  him, 
from  the  villages  and  hamlets  nearby,  and  they 
brought  to  him  their  sick  and  maimed,  "and  be- 
sought him  that  they  might  touch  but  the  hem 
of  his  garment;  and  as  many  as  touched  him  were 
made  whole  " 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    141 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 

THE  PROMISE  OF  THE  EUCHARIST. 

Grandma:  The  next  day  the  multitude,  whom 
Jesus  had  left  at  Tiberius,  set  out  to  seek  him,  and 
not  finding  him,  they  crossed  over  the  Sea  of  Tiberius 
in  their  barks  to  Capernaum.  Having  found 
Christ  on  the  opposite  shore,  they  said  to  him  in 
surprise:     "Master,   when  earnest  thou  hither?" 

Jesus  read  their  hearts  and  knew  that  they  sought 
him  with  such  eagerness,  not  because  of  the  truths 
he  taught  them,  but  because  of  the  bread  with  which 
he  had  fed  them  in  the  wilderness.  Therefore, 
without  replying  to  their  question,  he  told  them  that 
this  Hfe  was  not  the  eternal  life,  that  the  bread  with 
which  he  had  fed  them  in  the  desert  was  not  the 
bread  of  eternal  hfe  which  he  would  give  them. 
"They  said  therefore  to  him:  Lord  give  us  always 
this  bread."  And  Jesus  said  to  them:  "I  am  the 
living  bread  which  came  down  from  heaven."  In 
beautiful  words,  which  you  will  all  read  when  you 
are  as  old  as  Camille  and  Elizabeth,  Christ  told 
them  that  the  bread  of  eternal  life  of  which  he  spoke 
was  himself — his  own  flesh  and  blood,  with  which 
he  would  feed  all  men.     And  that  those  who  would 


142  THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

not  eat  of  this  bread,  would  not  have  eternal  life. 
That  they  would  not  live  in  him,  nor  he  in  them. 

Henry:  Grandma,  I  don't  understand  at  all. 
How  can  we  eat  our  Lord  and  how  can  he  give  him- 
self to  all  men  as  food? 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  left  us  his  body  to  be  our 
food  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament  of  the  Eucharist.  In 
this  Sacrament  he  continues  for  us  the  miracle 
of  the  multiplication  of  the  loaves.  Christ  Jesus 
hides  himself  under  the  appearance  of  the  bread 
given  in  Communion.  Those  who  receive  Com- 
munion receive  truly  and  really  the  body  and 
blood  of  Christ,  hidden  under  the  appearance  of  the 
Sacred  Host  and  multiplied  an  infinite  number  of 
times,  that  all  who  wish  may  receive  him. 

Though  he  is  hidden  thus  under  the  appearance 
of  bread,  he  is  truly  present.  Hence  we  call  the 
host  "the  bread  of  life."  And  he  said  to  the  Jews: 
"I  am  the  living  bread  which  came  down  from  heaven. 
If  any  man  eat  of  this  bread  he  shall  live  forever; 
and  the  bread  that  I  will  give  is  my  flesh,  for  the 
life  of  the  world.  .  .  .  Amen,  amen  I  say  unto 
you;  except  you  eat  the  flesh  of  the  Son  of  Man,  and 
drink  his  blood,  you  shall  not  have  life  in  you.  He 
that  eateth  my  flesh,  and  drinketh  my  blood,  hath 
everlasting  life;  and  I  will  raise  him  up  on  the  last 
day.  For  my  flesh  is  meat  indeed ;  and  my  blood  is 
drink    indeed.     .     .     .     This    is    the    bread    which 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    143 

came  down  from  heaven,  .  .  ,  He  that  eateth 
this  bread  shall  live  forever." 

The  Jews  and  even  the  disciples  who  heard  Jesus 
did  not  understand  him.  They  thought  this  blessed 
promise   strange   and   impossible. 

Jesus,  who  could  read  their  hardened  hearts,  read 
these  thoughts  and  continued  speaking  to  them  of 
the  Eucharist;  but  many  left  him  and  would  no 
longer  be  his  disciples,  because  they  would  not 
believe. 

Then  Jesus,  saddened  at  their  hardness  of  heart, 
turned  to  the  twelve  disciples  who  stood  around  him 
and  said  to  them:  "Will  you  also  go  away?  And 
Simon  Peter  answered  him:  Lord  to  whom  shall 
we  go?  Thou  hast  the  words  of  eternal  life.  And 
we  have  believed  and  have  known  that  thou  art  the 
Christ,  the  Son  of  God." 

Jesus  looked  at  him  lovingly  and  said:  "Have 
I  not  chosen  you  twelve;  and  one  of  you  is  a  devil?" 

Our  Lord  here  referred  to  Judas,  who  was  to 
betray  him,  and  who  was  one  of  the  twelve  whom 
he  had  chosen  as  his  special  friends. 

From  that  time  Jesus  remained  in  Galilee,  avoid- 
ing the  country  of  Judea,  because  the  Jews  sought  to 
put  him  to  death,  and  the  hour  of  his  sacrifice  had 
not  yet  come. 

He  preached  in  the  country  round  about,  and  in 
the  synagogues.  In  his  many  discourses,  which  we 
read  in  the  Gospels,  Christ  Jesus  sought  to  impress 


144    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

on  all  who  heard  him  that  it  was  not  only  the  observ- 
ing of  the  Law  which  pleased  God,  but  the  good 
dispositions  of  the  heart — humility,  patience,  purity, 
charity.  He  explained  that  it  would  avail  them 
nothing  to  have  fasted  and  offered  up  sacrifices,  if 
in  their  hearts  they  entertained  evil  thoughts.  For, 
Christ  said  to  them:  "Not  that  which  goeth  into 
the  mouth  defileth  a  man;  but  that  which  cometh 
out  of  a  man,  this  defileth  a  man." 

Little  Louis:    What  does  that  mean,  defileth? 

Grandma:  To  defile  means  to  soil.  Our  souls 
are  defiled  by  sin  only.  Our  Lord  meant  what 
comes  out  of  man's  heart  alone  can  stain  or  hurt  bis 
soul. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    145 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

THE  CANAANITISH  WOMAN. 

Grandma:  One  day,  as  Christ  was  passing  on  the 
road  near  Tyre  and  Sidon — 

Paul:     What  were  Tyre   and   Sidon? 

Grandma:  These  were  two  weahhy  towns  of 
Phoenicia  in  Syria.  From  out  of  the  city  of  Tyre 
there  came  to  Jesus  a  Canaanitish  woman — 

Paul:     What  does  Canaanitish  mean? 

Grandma:  It  means  of  the  tribe  of  Canaan. 
These  people  dwelt  in  Syria,  They  were  idolaters. 
That  is  to  say,  they  worshipped  false  gods  and 
images  of  false  gods  which  they  had  made  according 
to  their  fancy.  This  woman  had  heard  of  the 
miracles  of  Jesus,  and  she  came  to  him  crying  out 
and  saying:  "Have  mercy  on  me,  O  Lord,  thou 
Son  of  David;  my  daughter  is  grievously  troubled  by 
a  devil." 

To  this  appeal  Jesus  answered  not  a  word,  and 
seemed  unmindful  of  her  petition.  The  woman 
continued  to  cry  out,  asking  help  for  her  daughter; 
and  the  disciples,  wearied  by  her  importunity, 
begged  our  Lord  to  heed  her  cry,  saying:  "Send 
her  away,  for  she  keeps  crying  after  us." 


146  THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

And  Jesus  answering  said:  "I  was  not  sent  but 
to  the  sheep  that  are  lost  of  the  house  of  Israel." 

Mary  Theresa:  What  did  that  mean?  To  what 
sheep  had  he  been  sent? 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  spoke  of  the  people  of  Israel 
as  the  sheep  to  whom  he  had  been  sent.  This  Jewish 
people  you  know,  were  his  chosen  people,  from 
whom  was  bom  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  the  mother 
of  Christ,  the  Messias  who  was  to  save  the  world. 
Therefore  this,  his  chosen  people,  were  to  hear  his 
word  before  all  the  other  nations  of  the  world. 
Another  motive  which  induced  our  Lord  to  refuse  to 
answer  the  supplications  of  this  Canaanitish  woman 
was  that  Christ  wanted  to  teach  us  to  persevere  in 
prayer  and  not  be  discouraged,  but  to  beg  with 
oft-repeated  supplications  for  what  we  need. 

Undaunted  by  his  silence,  the  woman  drew  nearer 
and  adored  him,  saying  "Lord,  help  me."  Who 
answering  said:  "It  is  not  good  to  take  the  bread 
of  the  children,  and  to  cast  it  to  the  dogs." 

Valentine:  The  poor  woman  was  not  asking  for 
bread,  but  for  her  daughter's  cure.  I  don't  under- 
stand that. 

Grand  ma :  Our  Lord  wished  to  prove  her  humility. 
He  expresses  in  these  words  that  the  Jews  are  his 
children,  his  favored  people,  and  that  to  them  is 
reserved  the  bread  of  his  miracles.  And,  moreover, 
that  the  race  of  Canaan  arc  idolaters,  and  he  speaks 


THE  CHILDREN'S   LIFE  OF  CHRIST    147 

of  them  as  of  a  race  of  dogs,  unworthy  to  receive  this 
bread. 

Jane:  It  is  strange  to  me  that  our  Lord,  who  was 
so  good,  should  be  so  severe  to  this  woman. 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  was  goodness  itself,  and 
could  not  be  severe.  He  was  not  severe  to  this  poor 
woman,  nor  is  he  severe  to  us  when  he  sends  us 
illness  and  afflictions.  He  allows  these  trials  only 
to  increase  our  merit;  to  be  able  to  reward  our 
patience  and  perseverance  and  resignation,  as  you  will 
see  in  the  case  of  this  poor  woman.  Very  humbly 
she  answered  our  Lord:  "Yea,  Lord;  for  the 
whelps  also  eat  of  the  crumbs  that  fall  from  the 
table  of  their  masters.' 

Looking  at  her  with  compassion,  Jesus  said  to  her: 
"O  woman  great  is  thy  faith;  be  it  done  to  thee  as 
thou  wilt." 

And  the  woman,  returning  to  her  home,  found  her 
daughter  cured. 

We  read  of  no  other  miracles  performed  in  this 
country.  Jesus  left  this  pagan  land,  and  crossing 
Sidon  again  reached  the  Sea  of  Galilee. 


148  THE  CHILDREN'S  UFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XLV. 

CURE  OF  THE  DEAF  AND  DUMB  MAN. 

Grandma:  When  Christ  reached  the  coast  of  the 
Sea  of  Galilee  a  man  deaf  and  dumb  was  brought  to 
him  to  be  cured. 

Jesus  taking  him  aside  put  his  fingers  in  his  ears, 
and  wetting  his  fingers  with  saliva,  touched  his 
tongue,  then  he  raised  his  eyes  to  heaven,  he  sighed, 
and  said:  "Ephpheta,  which  means,  be  thou 
opened.  And  immediately  his  ears  were  opened, 
the  string  of  his  tongue  was  loosed,  and  the 
dumb  man  spake  distinctly."  And  all  who  wit- 
nessed this  miracle  were  in  amazement,  and  they 
said :  "He  hath  done  all  things  well :  he  hath  made 
both  the  deaf  to  hear  and  the  dumb  to  speak." 

Elizabeth:  Why  did  our  Lord  do  so  many  and 
such  various  things  to  cure  this  man?  In  other 
cures  he  merely  spoke  and  they  were  healed ;  but  to 
cure  this  man  he  puts  his  fingers  in  the  poor  man's 
ears,  saliva  on  his  tongue,  he  raises  up  his  eyes,  he 
sighs,  and  says:  "Be  thou  opened"  before  the 
man  is  cured. 

Grandma:  This  cure  is  a  type  or  picture  given 
for  our  instruction  of  the  conversion  of  sinners.     This 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    149 

man,  we  are  told,  was  brought  to  Jesus.  Evidently 
he  does  not  come  to  Christ  of  his  own  accord,  and 
even  then  our  Lord  has  to  take  him  by  the  hand 
and  draw  him  to  himself  aside  from  the  crowd. 
This  indicates  the  unwillingness  of  the  sinner  to  be 
converted.  Then  our  Lord  himself  has  to  touch 
the  heart  of  the  sinner  by  his  grace.  Even  that  is 
not  enough,  and  Jesus  prays  to  his  Father,  and  lastly, 
it  is  only  when  Christ  commands  that  his  eyes  are 
opened.  The  sinner  at  last  sees  and  acknowledges 
his  sins,  and  they  are  forgiven,  by  reason  of  his 
repentance  and  God's  great  mercy. 


150   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XLVI. 

JESUS  FEEDS  THE  MULTITUDE. 

Grandma:  After  this  miracle,  Jesus  withdrew 
to  the  mountains  near  the  lake.  There  the  multi- 
tude found  him.  They  came  in  great  numbers, 
"bringing  with  them  the  dumb,  the  blind,  the 
maimed,  and  many  others,  and  they  cast  them  down 
at  his  feet  and  he  healed  them. "  "So  that  the  multi- 
tude marveled,  seeing  the  dumb  speak,  the  lame 
walk,  the  blind  see,  and  they  glorified  the  God  of 
Israel." 

"And  Jesus  called  together  his  disciples,  and  said: 
I  have  compassion  on  the  multitude,  because  they 
have  been  with  me  now  three  days  and  have  not 
what  to  eat,  and  I  will  not  send  them  away  fasting, 
lest  they  faint  in  the  way."  And  the  disciples,  no 
doubt  forgetting  how  he  had  miraculously  fed  the 
five  thousand  in  the  wilderness,  asked  him:  "Whence, 
then,  can  any  one  fill  them  with  bread  here  in  the 
desert?  And  he  asked  them:  How  many  loaves 
have  you?  But  they  said:  Seven  and  a  few  little 
fishes." 

And  a  second  time  Jesus  multiplied  the  bread  and 
fishes  to  feed  this  multitude  of  hungry  people,  who  had 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    151 

come  to  hear  his  word  and  to  be  healed.  He  blessed 
the  bread  and  the  fishes  and  gave  them  to  his  disciples 
and  they  distributed  them,  and  by  his  almighty 
power  there  was  enough  for  all,  and  seven  baskets 
full  left  over. 

"And  having  dismissed  the  multitude,  he  went  up 
into  a  boat  and  came  into  the  coasts  of  Magedan." 

Louis:     Where  was  the  country  of  Magedan? 

Grandma:  Between  Genesareth  and  Corozain, 
and  very  near  the  Sea  of  Galilee. 


152   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XLVII. 

THE  CURE  OF  THE  BUND  MAN. 

Grandma:  Jesus  and  his  disciples  crossed  the  Sea 
of  GaHlee  to  Bethsaida,  a  town  on  the  seacoast. 
Here  they  brought  to  him  a  bUnd  man,  beseeching 
Christ  to  cure  him.  Jesus  took  him  by  the  hand  and 
led  him  aside,  and  putting  spittle  on  his  eyes  asked 
him  if  he  saw  anything.  The  blind  man  looking 
up  answered:  "I  see  men  as  it  were  trees  walking." 
Jesus  again  laid  his  blessed  hands  on  the  poor,  half- 
opened  eyes,  and  the  blind  man  "began  to  see  and 
was  restored,  so  that  he  saw  all  things  clearly,"  and 
Jesus  sent  him  back  to  his  house,  cured. 

Louis:  This  miracle  reminds  me  of  the  deaf  and 
dumb  man.  Our  Lord  had  so  much  trouble  curing 
him  also. 

Grandma:  Yes;  in  this  instance,  also,  we  see  the 
picture  of  a  converted  sinner.  The  soul  must  leave 
bad  habits  and  evil  acquaintances,  and  go  aside  with 
Jesus,  if  it  will  be  cured.  In  the  beginning  of  his 
conversion,  the  sinner  sees  only  indistinctly,  as  did 
the  blind  man  when  Jesus  first  touched  his  eyes. 
However,  he  begins  to  see  the  world  as  it  is  and  all 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    153 

things  in  a  better  light;  but  it  is  only  after  his  soul 
is  washed  by  sacramental  grace  that  his  eyes  are 
opened.  This  means,  of  course,  the  eyes  of  his  soul. 
He  then  sees  his  sins  and  sees  the  difference  between 
good  and  evil,  and  his  soul  is  cured. 


154   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


BOOK  FOURTH 

Third  Year  of  the  Ministry  of  Jesus 
CHAPTER  XLVIII. 

CHRIST  ESTABUSHES  PETER  HEAD  OF  HIS  CHURCH. 

Grandma:  Jesus  left  Bethsaida  in  the  company 
of  his  disciples  to  visit  the  neighboring  villages  of 
Judea,  situated  near  the  mouth  of  the  Jordan.  And 
on  the  way  Jesus  put  this  question  to  his  disciples; 
"Whom  do  men  say  that  I  am?"  And  they  an- 
wered:  "Some  say  John  the  Baptist;  and  some  say 
Elias ;  and  others  say  that  one  of  the  former  prophets 
is  risen  again." 

Jesus  said  to  them:  "But  whom  do  you  say  that 
lam?" 

"Simon  Peter  answered  and  said:  Thou  art 
Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God." 

"And  Jesus  answering  said  to  him:  Blessed  art 
thou,  Simon,  son  of  John,  because  flesh  and  blood 
hath  not  revealed  it  to  thee,  but  my  Father  who  is 
in  heaven.  And  I  say  to  thee,  that  thou  art  Peter; 
and  upon  this  rock  I  will  build  my  Church,  and  the 
gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail  against  it.  And  I  will 
give  to  thee  the  keys  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  And 
whatsoever  thou  shalt  bind  upon  earth,  it  shall  be 
bound  also  in  heaven;  and  whatsoever  thou  shalt 
loose  on  earth,  it  shall  be  loosed  also  in  heaven." 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    155 

Leuis.  What  does  "flesh  and  blood"  mean? 
How  can  flesh  and  blood  reveal  anything? 

Grandma:  By  "flesh  and  blood"  our  Lord  means 
our  human  intelligence,  which  would  not  have  been 
capable  of  showing  St.  Peter  that  Christ  was  the 
Son  of  God  unless  the  grace  of  God  had  come  to  his 
aid. 

Henrietta:  And  what  does  our  Lord  mean  when 
he  says  that  on  St.  Peter  he  will  build  his  Church? 

Grandma:  When  we  plan  to  build  a  house,  we 
begin  by  laying  a  foundation  stone,  a  first  stone,  on 
which  all  the  other  stones  will  be  laid  for  the  erection 
of  the  building.  Likewise,  when  our  Lord  planned 
his  Church,  he  established  St.  Peter  as  the  corner 
stone.  It  was  on  this  foundation  stone,  Peter,  who 
was  the  first  Pontiff,  that  the  Church  of  Christ  was 
erected.  From  this  beginning  it  was  built  up  and  is 
still  being  erected,  composed  of  the  laithful  who 
form  the  Church.  These  faithful  followers  of  Christ 
are  guided  and  directed  by  the  Sovereign  Pontiff, 
the  Holy  Father,  who  is  the  successor  of  St.  Peter. 
Each  one  of  us  is  as  a  stone  in  this  edifice. 

Valentine:  What  means  "the  gates  of  hell  shall 
not  prevail  against  it"  ? 

Grandma:  The  gates  of  hell  signify  the  powers  of 
hell.  These  are  the  spirits  of  evil,  the  heretics,  the 
unbelievers,  who  attack  the  Church  of  Christ,  and 
endeavor  to  overthrow  it.  Our  Lord  promised  that 
they  would  not  succeed,  because  he  had  established 


156    THE  CHILDRKN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

it  on  a  strong  foundation,  St.  Peter,  and  his  suc- 
cessors, the  Bishops  of  Rome. 

The  teachings  of  the  Holy  Father,  who  is  the 
Bishop  of  Rome,  and  his  decisions  guide  the  Church 
of  Christ  to-day.  And  the  faithful  yielding  him  all 
obedience,  strong  in  their  faith,  will  never  be  over- 
thrown. 

Louis:    What  keys  did  our  Lord  give  St.  Peter? 

Grandma:  This  also  is  what  we  call  a  figure  of 
speech;  that  is  to  say,  it  holds  a  meaning,  a  lesson, 
which  I  shall  give  you. 

As  a  householder  gives  his  overseer  all  the  keys 
which  lock  up  the  treasures  of  his  house,  Christ  gives 
to  Peter,  whom  he  has  just  established  Head  of  the 
Church,  power  to  give  out  or  withhold  the  treasures 
of  that  Church. 

All  that  Peter  will  bind,  that  is,  condemn,  will  be 
bound  and  condemned  by  our  Lord  in  heaven;  all 
that  he  will  approve  and  forgive,  will  be  approved 
and  forgiven  in  heaven. 

The  Pope,  as  the  representative  of  Christ,  is  the 
visible  Head  of  the  Church.  In  matters  of  the 
Christian  religion,  then,  every  pne  owes  him,  as 
they  owe  Christ,  obedience;  and  this  is  true  even  of 
kings,   emperors,    and   bishops. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  UF^  OF  CHRIST    157 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 

CHRIST    PREDICTS    HIS    DEATH    AND    RESURRECTION. 

Grandma:  Then,  still  speaking  to  his  disciples, 
our  Lord  predicted  his  death.  He  told  them  he 
would  have  to  go  to  Jerusalem  to  suffer,  and  that  the 
scribes  and  princes  and  high  priests  would  put  him 
to  death;  but  that  on  the  third  day  he  would  rise 
again  from  the  dead. 

Peter,  taking  our  Lord  aside,  "began  to  rebuke 
him  saying:  Lord,  be  it  far  from  thee,  this  shall  not 
be  tmto  thee."  But  Jesus,  turning  to  Peter,  said 
to  him:  "Go  behind  me,  Satan,  thou  art  a  scandal 
imto  me;  because  thou  savorest  not  the  things  that 
are  of  God,  but  the  things  that  are  of  men." 

Henrietta:  Poor  St.  Peter,  why  does  our  Lord 
rebuke  him  so  severely?  It  does  not  seem  to  me  he 
said  anything  wrong. 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  shows  Peter  his  displeasure 
in  these  strong  words,  to  show  him  how  guilty  he 
was  to  wish  to  oppose  his  will  to  the  will  of  God.  He 
teaches  Peter  and  the  other  disciples  that,  however 
repugnant  and  distasteful  may  be  the  duties,  trials, 
and  sorrows  of  this  life,  we  must  accept  them  with 
love  and  joy,  because  they  are  sent  by  God. 


158  THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

We  must  not  rebel  against  them,  but  we  must 
perform  these  duties  and  bear  these  hardships 
wilHngly, 

Around  the  little  group  of  Apostles  the  people 
began  to  gather,  and  our  Lord  addressing  them  all 
added  "If  any  man  will  come  after  me,  let  him 
deny  himself,  and  take  up  his  cross,  and  follow  me." 

Valentin,:     What  did  Christ  mean  by  that? 

Grandma:  This  means  that  all  of  us  who  wish 
to  become  good  Christians  and  enter  into  the  king- 
dom of  God,  must  deny  ourselves,  that  is,  overcome 
ourselves,  conquer  our  faults  and  failings.  We  must 
take  up  our  cross,  which  means  we  must  bear  with- 
out murmuring  all  the  sorrows  and  sufferings  which 
may  come  to  us.  It  means  we  must  impose  on 
ourselves  privations  for  the  love  of  God. 

Valentine:    What    privations.    Grandma? 

Grandma:  The  privation  of  what  may  be  a 
pleasure  to  us,  if  it  is  bad  for  our  souls.  For  ex- 
ample, the  idle  man  will  work,  though  inclined  to 
be  indolent;  the  glutton  will  moderate  his  appetite; 
the  vain  man  will  give  up  the  desire  to  please  and  to 
be  praised ,  the  liar  will  strive  not  to  alter  the  truth ; 
those  given  to  anger  will  endeavor  to  be  gentle  and 
patient,  though  it  cost  them  an  effort.  All  this  you 
see  includes  privations,  the  denying  of  our  own  will. 

When  we  thus  deny  ourselves  we  follow  in  the 
footsteps  of  Christ,  our  Loid,  and  he  will  lead  us  to 
his  heavenly  kingdom. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    159 

And  Christ  added:  "For  whosoever  will  save  his 
life,  shall  lose  it;  and  whosoever  shall  lose  his  life 
for  my  sake,  shall  find  it;  for  what  shall  it  profit  a  man 
if  he  gain  the  whole  world,  and  suffer  the  loss  of  his 
soul?" 

Henry:  Must  we  not  try  to  save  our  life  if  we  are 
in  danger? 

Grandma:  Yes;  we  can  and  must  save  our  life 
and  preserve  our  life,  provided  thereby  we  do  not 
deny  our  Lord.  Christ  here  speaks  of  those  who 
prefer  death  to  denying  Christ  by  sin.  These  he 
tells  us  will  find  eternal  life  in  heaven.  On  the 
other  hand,  they  who,  for  the  sake  of  life  on  earth, 
deny  Christ,  will  be  lost  eternally. 

What  good,  indeed,  will  it  do  us  if,  in  order  to  be 
happy  in  this  world  for  a  few  years,  we  should  lose 
our  soul  and  be  unhappy  for  all  eternity. 


160   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  L. 

THE  TRANSFIGURATION  OF  OUR  LORD. 

Grandma :  About  eight  days  after  this  instruction 
to  his  disciples  Christ,  taking  with  him  Peter  and 
James  and  John,  ascended  a  steep  mountain  to 
pray,  undisturbed. 

And  while  our  Lord  Jesus  prayed  "his  face  did 
shine  as  the  sun.  and  his  garments  became  white  as 
snow." 

Peter  and  the  other  two  Apostles,  weary  with  the 
day's  joumeyings,  had  fallen  asleep,  but  the  bright 
light,  which  surrounded  Christ  aroused  them;  and 
they  awoke  to  find  their  Master  resplendent  with  a 
heavenly  glory  and  conversing  with  two  men,  whom 
they  saw  were  Moses  and  Elias.  Together  they  were 
speaking  with  our  Lord  of  his  death,  which  would 
take  place  in  Jerusalem.  Peter  bewildered  and 
amazed,  cried  out:  "Master,  it  is  good  for  us  to  be 
here,  let  us  make  three  tabernacles,  one  for  thee  one 
for  Moses,  one  for  Elias!" 

While  Peter  was  still  speaking  a  bright  cloud 
enveloped  Jesus  and  Moses  and  Elias,  and  from  this 
mist  the  Apostles  heard  a  voice  saying:     "This  is 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    161 

my  beloved  Son;  here  ye  him."  Filled  with  fear 
at  this  glorious  vision,  the  Apostles  fell  prostrate 
on  the  ground,  and  Jesus  drawing  near  touched  them 
saying:     "Arise,  and  fear  not." 

"And  they,  lifting  up  their  eyes,  saw  no  one,  but 
only  Jesus.  And  as  they  came  down  from  the 
mountain  Jesus  charged  them,  saying:  Tell  the 
vision  to  no  man,  till  the  Son  of  Man  be  risen  from 
the  dead."  And  the  Apostles  obeyed  our  Lord,  but 
they  questioned  among  themselves  what  meant, 
"when  he  shall  be  risen  from  the  dead?" 

Jack:  What,  they  did  not  yet  understand  what 
our  Lord  had  told  them  of  his  death  and  resurrection  ? 

Grandma:  Their  minds  were  still  unopened  to 
the  truth.  It  was  needful  that  Christ  should  die 
and  rise  again,  and  that  the  light  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
should  come  upon  his  Apostles  before  they  should 
be  strong  in  their  faith.  Not  until  then  did  they 
understand  fully  who  Christ  was,  and  why  he  had 
come  into  this  world,  why  he  had  died,  and  how  he 
had  proved  his  divinity  by  his  resurrection. 

Henry:     And  yet  we  understand  all  that. 

Grandma:  Yes;  we  understand  because  of  the 
grace  of  Baptism,  which  implants  in  our  souls  the 
seed  of  faith,  and  because  of  the  teachings  of  the 
Church  of  Christ. 


162    THE  CHILDREN'S  LH^^K  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  LI. 

THE  HEALING  OF  THE  BOY  POSSESSED  OF  THE  DEVIL. 

Grandma :  The  following  day,  as  Jesus  came  down 
from  the  mountain  with  his  three  Apostles,  he  saw 
a  crowd  gathered  around  the  disciples  whom  lie 
had  left  at  the  foot  of  the  mount  to  await  his  return. 
And,  as  he  drew  near,  a  man  from  the  crowd  cried 
out:  "Master,  I  beseech  thee,  look  upon  my  son, 
because  he  is  my  only  one.  And,  lo!  a  spirit  seizeth 
him  and  he  suddenly  crieth  out,  and  he  throweth 
him  down  and  teareth  him,  so  that  he  foameth  and 
gnasheth  with  the  teeth ;  and  I  spoke  to  thy  disciples 
to  cast  him  out,  and  they  were  not  able."  Jesus 
said:  "Bring  hither  thy  son."  And  as  the  child 
drew  near  to  Jesus,  "the  devil  threw  him  dovm 
upon  the  ground."  And  Jesus  asked  the  father: 
"How  long  time  is  it  ince  this  hath  happened  unto 
him?"  And  the  father  answered;  "From  his  in- 
fancy. And  oftentimes  hath  he  (the  evil  spirit)  cast 
him  into  the  fire  and  into  water  to  destroy  him. 
But  if  thou  canst  do  anything,  help  us,  having  com- 
passion on  us.  Jesus  said  to  him:  If  thou  canst 
believe,  all  things  are  possible  to  him  that  believeth. 
And  immediately   the   father  of  the  boy  cried  out, 


THE  CHILDREN'S  UFE  OF  CHRIST    163 

with  tears  said '  I  do  believe,  Lord,  help  thou  my 
unbelief."  And  Jesus  threatened  the  unclean  spirit, 
saying:  "Deaf  and  dumb  spirit.  I  command  thee, 
go  out  of  him,  and  entei  not  any  more  into  him." 

And  crying  out,  the  evil  spirit  left  the  child,  who 
lay  on  the  ground  as  if  dead. 

"But  Jesus,  taking  him  by  the  hand,  lifted  him  up 
and  he  rose,"  and  Jesus  gave  him  to  his  father 
restored  to  health. 

Jane:  Why  could  not  the  disciples  cure  this 
child? 

Grandma:  Because  they  had  not  sufficient  faith 
in  the  power  Christ  Jesus  had  given  them. 

Henry: .  And  why  does  our  Lord  ask  the  father  to 
believe  before  he  cures  the  child?  It  would  not  have 
been  the  child's  fault  if  his  father  had  not    believed. 

Grandma:  It  was  the  father  who  asked  the  cure 
of  his  son.  It  was  to  the  father  our  Lord  granted 
the  cure.  And  the  father  had  to  deserve  it  by  his 
faith  in  the  power  of  Christ,  whose  aid  he  sought. 

Elizabeth:  Why  does  our  Lord  say :  "Thou  deaf 
and  dumb  spirit?" 

Grandma:  Because  the  evil  spirit  had  made  the 
poor  boy  deaf  and  dumb. 

Elizabeth:  Are  there  persons  to-day  possessed  of 
the  devil? 

Grandma:  In  Christian  countries,  since  the  com- 
ing of  Christ,  it  is  very  rare.     However,  it  is  not 


164   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

unknown    in   pagan   countries.     In   China,    for   in- 
stance, there  are  such  cases. 

Elizabeth:  And  how  are  they  cured,  these  poor 
people  ? 

Grandma:  They  are  exorcised;  that  is  to  say, 
that  the  priest  sprinkles  them  with  holy  water,  says 
certain  prayers  over  them  and  for  them,  and  often 
obtains  their  deliverance  from  the  power  of  the  evil 
one. 

Camille:  A  few  days  ago,  when  I  was  visiting 
with  mother,  I  heard  some  one  say  that  there  was 
no  such  thing  as  possession  by  the  devil ;  that  persons 
who  seemed  so  afflicted  were  only  ill. 

Grandma:  Those  who  speak  thus,  either  do  not 
reflect,  or  have  not  sufficient  faith.  If  we  believe 
in  the  Bible,  we  must  necessarily  believe  in  the  devil 
and  the  possibility  of  his  taking  possession  of  us. 
Unfortunately,  cases  of  possession  do  exist,  and  we 
can't  disbelieve  them.  But  if  we  live  good,  pure. 
Christian  lives,  we  are  under  the  protection  of  our 
Lord,  who  is  all-powerful,  and  consequently  we  arc 
safe  from  the  power  of  Satan. 

While  the  people  wondered  among  themselves 
at  this  miracle,  our  Lord  entered  the  house.  His 
disciples  asked  him:  "Why  could  we  not  cast  out 
the  devil?"  And  Jesus  answered  them:  "Because 
of  your  unbelief.  For,  amen,  I  say  to  you,  if  ye 
have  faith  as  a  grain  of  mustard  seed,  you  shall  say  to 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    165 

this  mountain:  Remove  from  hence,  and  it  shall 
remove,  and  nothing  will  be  impossible  to  you. 

Leaving  the  neighborhood  of  Mount  Tabor, 
Jesus  and  his  disciples  took  the  road  to  Capernaum, 
On  the  way  Jesus  said  to  them:  "The  Son  of  Man 
shall  be  betrayed  into  the  hands  of  men,  and  they 
shall  kill  him;  and  after  that  he  is  killed,  he  shall 
rise  again  the  third  day." 

But  the  disciples  did  not  understand  these  words, 
though  they  were  very  clear  and  easy  to  comprehend. 


166   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  LIT. 

JESUS  PAYS  THE  TRIBUTE  MONEY. 

Grandma:  Having  reached  Capernaum,  the 
collector  of  taxes  drew  near  to  St.  Peter  and  said  to 
him,  "Doth  not  your  Master  pay  the  two  di- 
drachma   for   the   tribute?" 

Paul :     What  was  the  tribute  ? 

Grandma:  The  tribute  is  a  certain  sum  of  money 
which  all  conquered  countries  must  pay  every  year 
to  their  conquerors.  The  Jews,  therefore,  owed 
tribute  to  the  Romans  since  the  conquest  of  Judea 
by  Rome. 

Little  Loxds:     What    is   the    didrachma? 

Grandma:  A  didrachma  is  a  small  piece  of  money 
worth  about  ten  cents  of  our  money. 

"Yes;"  Peter  replied,  "he  pays  it."  And  going 
into  the  house,  Peter  spoke  to  our  Lord  of  the  demand 
of  the  tax  gatherer.  Jesus  explained  to  St.  Peter 
that,  being  king  of  earth  and  heaven,  he  did  not  owe 
this  tribute;  but,  added  Jesus,  "that  we  may  not 
scandalize  them  go  to  the  sea,  and  cast  in  a  hook; 
and  that  fish  which  shall  first  come  up,  take;  and 
when  thou  hast  opened  its  mouth,  thou  shalt  find 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    167 

a  stater;  take  that,  and  give  it  to  them  for  thee  and 
forme." 

Henrietta:     What   is   a   stater? 

Gratidma:  A  stater  is  a  piece  of  money  worth 
about  four  didrachmas,  that  would  be  forty  cents 
of  our  money.  And  so  our  Lord  paid  the  tribute 
for  himself  and  St.  Peter,  in  obedience  to  the  law.! 


168  THE  CHILDREN'S   LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  LIII. 

DISPUTE  AMONG  THE  DISCIPI.ES. 

Grandma:  When  the)^  had  re-entered  the  house, 
Jesus  asked  his  disciples:  "What  were  you  dis- 
cussing on  the  road?"  The  disciples  quite  abashed 
did  not  reply,  "for  on  the  way  they  had  disputed 
among  themselves,  which  of  them  should  be  greatest!" 
And  Christ  seating  himself  drew  a  little  child  to  him, 
and  held  the  little  one  in  his  embrace,  and  to  his 
disciples  he  said:  "If  any  man  desire  to  be  first, 
he  shall  be  the  last  of  all,  and  the  servant  of  all.'' 

Louis:     Why  should  such  a  man  be  the  last  of  all? 

Grandma:  This  expression,  the  last  of  all,  means 
here  the  most  humble.  Our  Lord  loves  the  humble- 
minded;  he  abhors  the  proud.  When  we  are  the 
least  in  our  own  esteem;  when  we  realize  our  sinful- 
ness, and  how  little  we  deserve  reward,  then  our 
soul  is  prepared  to  receive  the  graces  of  God.  Then 
^ve  are  near  to  sanctity  and  to  the  bliss  of  heaven. 

And  after  embracing  the  little  child,  he  set  him 
in  the  midst  of  them  and  said  to  them:  "Amen  I 
say  to  you,  unless  you  be  converted,  and  become  as 
little  children,  you  shall  not  enter  into  the  kingdom 
of    heaven.     Whosoever,     therefore,     shall    humble 


THE  CHILDREN'S  UFE  OF  CHRIST    169 

himself  as  this  little  child,  he  is  the  greater  in  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.  And  he  that  shall  receive  one 
such  Httle  child  in  my  name,  receiveth  me.  But 
he  that  shall  scandalize  one  of  these  little  ones  that 
believe  in  me,  it  were  better  for  him  that  a  mill- 
stone should  be  hanged  about  his  neck,  and  that  he 
should  be  drowned  in  the  depth  of  the  sea." 

Henrietta:  It  must  be  a  terrible  thing  then  to 
scandalize  a  child. 

Grandma:  You  see  how  terrible  our  Lord  thinks 
it  is,  since  he  tells  his  disciples  it  were  better  for  the 
culprit  to  be  drowned  in  the  depths  of  the  sea.  It  is, 
indeed,  dreadfully  wicked  to  scandalize  a  little  child; 
to  teach  him  evil  ways ;  to  lessen  his  faith ;  to  kill  the 
life  of  his  soul;  those  souls  of  little  children,  so  in- 
nocent and  pure. 

When  you  grow  up,  my  little  children,  love  the 
little  ones  as  our  Lord  loved  them.  Be  good  and 
gentle  to  them ;  instruct  them ;  give  them  good  advice 
and  good  example;  comfort  them  in  their  little 
difficulties.  Never  take  advantage  of  your  greater 
strength  over  those  that  are  without  means  of  de- 
fence, but  sweeten  their  lives  and  teach  them  gentle- 
ness and  love.  Train  their  young  hearts  to  the  love 
of  God.  Imitate  our  Lord,  love  them,  embrace 
them,  and  remember  these  words  of  Christ:  "He 
that  shall  receive  a  little  child  in  my  name  receiveth 
me. 


170    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Camille:  Grandma,  is  that  the  reason  you  love 
little  children  so  much? 

Grandma:  Yes,  little  one;  for  that  reason,  and 
also  because  I  naturally  love  little  children. 

Our  Lord  continued  teaching  his  disciples,  saying 
to  them:  "And  if  thy  hand  scandalize  thee,  cut 
it  off—" 

Henrietta:  Oh,  my!  this  is  the  second  time  our 
Lord  says  this ! 

Grandma,  continuing:  "It  is  better  for  thee  to 
enter  into  life  maimed  than  having  two  hands  to  go 
into  hell.  And  if  thy  foot  scandalize  thee,  cut  it  off. 
It  is  better  for  thee  to  enter  lame  into  life  everlasting, 
than  having  two  feet  to  be  cast  into  the  hell  of  un- 
quenchable fire,  where  the  fire  is  not  extinguished.  And 
if  thy  eye  scandalize  thee  pluck  it  out.  It  is  better 
for  thee  with  one  eye  to  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
God  than,  having  two  eyes,  to  be  cast  into  the  hell 
of  fire." 

Henrietta:  Grandma,  it  is  really  impossible  to 
obey  our  Lord's  command.  I,  for  one,  won't  cut 
off  my  hands  and  feet  and  pluck  out  my  eyes. 

Grandma:  You  have  already  forgotten  what 
I  told  you  only  a  few  days  ago,  that  our  Lord  speaks 
by  means  of  comparisons,  of  figures  of  speech.  He 
wants  to  teach  us  that  we  must  be  ready  to  sacrifice 
even  the  most  necessary,  even  the  most  innocent 
things,  rather  than  commit  a  sin.  As  a  figure  of 
speech,  you  will  cut  off  your  hands  and  your  feet  by 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    171 

preventing  them,  through  your  will,  to  do  evil. 
Twice  does  our  Lord  repeat  this  precept,  in  order  to 
show  us  how  necessary  such  a  determination  is  to  us. 
Our  Lord  ended  this  instruction  by  telling  his 
disciples  that  when  two  or  three  persons  were  gathered 
together  to  pray,  their  request  would  be  answered 
by  their  Father  in  heaven;  for,  said  Jesus:  "Where 
there  are  two  or  three  gathered  together  in  my  name, 
there  I  am  in  the  midst  of  them." 


172   THK  CHILDREN'S  Uh^E  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  LIV. 

PARABI.E  OF  THE  KING  AND  HIS  SERVANTS. 

Grandma:  Peter,  who  had  listened  to  this  beauti- 
ful discourse,  drew  near  to  Jesus  and  said:  "Lord 
how  often  shall  my  brother  offend  against  me,  and 
I  forgive  him?  till  seven  times?" 

Jesus  answered:  "I  say  not  to  thee,  till  seven 
times;  but  till  seventy  times  seven  times." 

Henry:  Why  does  our  Lord  mention  this  special 
number  ? 

Grandma:  This  large  number  signified  that  we 
must  forgive  always,  and  always  without  growing 
weary 

And,  continued  our  Lord:  "Therefore  is  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  likened  to  a  king,  who  would 
take  an  account  of  his  servants.  And  when  he  had 
begun  to  take  the  account,  one  was  brought  to  him 
that  owed  him  ten  thousand  talents." 

Mary  Theresa:     What  is  a  talent? 

Grandma:  A  talent  was  a  piece  of  money  used 
by  the  Hebrews,  and  worth  about  one  thousand 
nine  hundred  dollars  of  our  money.  In  mentioning 
ten  thousand  talents,  our  Lord  wishes  to  indicate  a 
ver>'^  large  sum. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  UFE  OF  CHRIST    173 

"And  as  the  servant  had  not  wherewith  to  pay  it, 
his  lord  commanded  that  he  should  be  sold,  and  his 
wife  and  children  and  all  that  he  had,  and  payment 
to  be  made." 

Valentine:     What  a  wicked  king! 

Grandma:  Wait  and  you  will  hear  the  end  of 
this  parable:  "But  that  servant  falling  down, 
besought  him,  saying:  Have  patience  with  me,  and 
I  will  pay  thee  all.  And  the  lord  of  that  servant, 
being  moved  with  pity,  let  him  go  and  forgave 
him  his  debt.  But  when  that  servant  had 
gone  out,  he  found  one  of  his  fellow-servants  that 
owed  him  a  hundred  pence." 

Paul :     What  is  a  pence  ? 

Grandma:  A  pence  is  a  small  piece  of  Roman 
money,  worth  about  eighteen  cents. 

The  servant  having  met  his  fellow-servant,  who 
owed  him  one  hundred  pence,  "throttled  him, 
saying:  Pay  what  thou  owest.  And  his  fellow- 
servant,  falling  down,  besought  him,  saying:  Have 
patience  with  me,  and  I  will  pay  thee  all.  And  he 
would  not;  but  went  and  cast  him  into  prison,  till 
he  paid  his  debt.  Now  his  fellow-servants,  seeing 
what  was  done,  were  very  much  grieved,  and  they 
came  and  told  their  lord  all  that  was  done.  Then 
his  lord  called  him,  and  said  to  him:  Thou  wicked 
servant,  I  forgave  thee  all  thy  debt,  because  thou 
be  sough  test  me.  Shouldst  not  thou  then  have  had 
compassion  also  on   thy    fellow-servant,    even    as 


174   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

I  had  compassion  on  thee.  And  his  lord,  being 
angry,  delivered  him  to  the  torturers  until  he  paid 
all  his  debt.  So,  also,  shall  my  heavenly  father  do 
to  you,  if  you  forgive  not  every  one  his  brother  from 
your  hearts." 

Louis:  However,  Grandma,  if  we  owe  money  we 
have  to  pay  it.  Would  it  not  be  dishonest  not  to 
pay  back  what  we  borrow  ? 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  in  this  parable  uses  money 
as  an  example.  He  means  the  forgiveness  of  injuries, 
the  pardon  of  offences.  The  wicked  servant  owed 
the  king  a  large  sum,  that  is  to  say  he  had  greatly 
offended  his  king,  as  we  may  have  committed  many 
offences  against  God.  His  master  determines  to 
punish  him  by  imprisonment  for  those  things  of 
which  he  is  guilty.  The  servant,  frightened,  begs 
pardon  of  his  lord,  implores  his  mercy,  promises  to 
atone  by  good  conduct  in  the  future.  The  master  is 
good ;  he  is  moved  to  pity,  and  he  forgives  his  servant. 
Though  not  in  money,  it  is  really  a  debt  the  master 
remits,  or  forgives.  The  wicked  servant  meets  a 
man  who  has  only  slightly  offended  him.  He  lays 
hold  of  him  and  casts  him  into  prison.  This  means, 
he  returns  him  evil  for  evil,  does  him  injury,  and  this 
in  spite  of  the  supplications  of  his  enemy,  who 
promises  to  be  his  friend  in  the  future,  thus  to  repay 
or  atone  for  the  wrong  he  has  done  him.  Then  the 
king,  seeing  that  the  wicked  servant  had  taken  no 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    175 

heed  of  the  example  of  forgiveness  of  injuries  which 
he  had  but  now  given  him,  withdrew  his  forgiveness. 
This  parable  shows  us  plainly  that  we  should  be 
charitable  and  forgive  our  enemies,  if  we  wish  the 
good  God,  our  Divine  Master,  to  forgive  us  our  sins. 


176   THE  CHIlvDRKN'S  LIFE  OK  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  LV. 

THE  SAMARITANS  REFUSE  TO  RECEIVE  JESUS. 

Grandma:  Our  Lord,  with  his  Apostles,  took 
the  road  to  Jerusalem.  On  the  way  they  came  to  a 
Samaritan  village,  and  Christ  sent  his  disciples 
ahead  to  prepare  a  lodging  place  for  them. 

But  the  inhabitants  of  Samaria  hated  the  Jews, 
and  would  not  receive  them  into  their  city.  The 
disciples,  James  and  John,  returned  to  Jesus,  saying: 
"Lord,  wilt  thou  that  we  command  fire  to  come 
down  from  heaven,  and  consume  them?  But  Jesus 
rebuked  them,  saying:  You  know  not  of  what 
spirit  you  are." 

Mary  Theresa:     What  did  that  mean.  Grandma? 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  meant:  you  forget  that  ye 
should  have  the  spirit  of  charity,  which  is  the  spirit 
of  God,  my  spirit,  I  who  am  all  meekness  and  all 
charity.  Then  our  Lord  added:  "The  Son  of  God 
came  not  to  destroy  souls,  but  to  save."  And  they 
went  further  into  another  village,  and  as  they  jour- 
neyed a  man  drew  near  to  our  Lord  saying:  "I  will 
follow  thee  whithersoever  thou  goest.  Jesus  said  to 
him:     The  foxes  have  holes  and  the  birds  of   the 


THE  CHILDREN'S  UFE  OF  CHRIST    177 

air  have  nests:  but  the  Son  of  Man  hath  not  where 
to  lay  his  head." 

Jane:  Poor  Jesus!  he  had  not  even  a  little  house 
of  his  own. 

Grandma:  If  Christ  had  willed  it,  he  could  have 
had  all  the  wealth  of  the  world;  but  he  willed  to 
spend  all  the  days  of  his  earthly  life  in  poverty,  des- 
titute of  all  things,  to  give  us  an  example  of  detach- 
ment from  riches  and  the  things  of  this  world. 

Therefore,  to  those  who  felt  drawn  to  follow  him, 
but  hesitated  because  the  affairs  of  this  world 
detained  them,  our  Lord  said:  "No  man  putting 
his  hand  to  the  plow,  and  looking  back,  is  fit  for  the 
kingdom  of  God. ' ' 

Valentine :     What  does  that  mean ? 

Grandma:  This  means  that  he  is  a  poor  servant 
who,  after  having  begun  to  work  for  God  and  to 
serve  him,  casts  a  backward  glance  of  regret  on  the 
friends  and  pleasures  he  has  left.  He  will  soon  leave 
the  plow,  which  means  the  life  of  mortification  and 
of  penance,  and  abandon  God's  service  for  the  world. 


178   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  LVI. 

PARABLE  OF  THE  GOOD  SAMARITAN. 

Grandma:  One  day  a  Doctor  of  the  Law  said  to 
Jesus:  "Master,  what  shall  I  do  to  obtain  eternal 
life?"  Jesus  saw  at  a  glance  that  this  man  ques- 
tioned him  not  in  order  to  learn,  but  hoping  to 
induce  our  Lord  to  answer  something  that  would 
displease  the  people.  None  the  less  Christ  deigns 
to  teach  him;  and  replies  by  a  question:  "What 
is  written  in  the  law?"  The  lawyer  answered: 
"Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  thy  whole 
heart,  and  with  thy  whole  soul,  and  with  thy  whole 
strength,  and  with  all  thy  mind ;  and  thy  neighbor  as 
thyself."  And  Jesus  said  to  him:  "Thou  hast 
answered  right;  this  do,  and  thou  shalt  live."  But 
the  lawyer,  wishing  to  appear  eager  to  understand 
the  law,  asked  our  Lord  who  was  his  neighbor? 
And  Jesus  replied :  "A  certain  man  went  from  Jeru- 
salem to  Jericho — " 

Little  Louis:     Was  Jericho  very  far  away? 

Grandma:  Jericho  was  a  city  about  ten  miles 
from  Jerusalem, 

Well,  this  man  going  to  Jericho  "fell  among 
robbers,  who  stripped  him,  and  having  wounded  him 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    179 

went  away,  leaving  him  half  dead.  And  it  chanced 
a  certain  priest  went  down  the  same  way;  and 
seeing  him,  passed  by.  In  like  manner,  also,  a 
Levite,  when  he  was  near  the  place,  saw  him,  and 
passed  by.  But  a  certain  Samaritan,  being  on  his 
journey,  came  near  him,  and  seeing  him  was  moved 
with  compassion.  And  going  up  to  him,  bound  up 
his  wounds,  pouring  in  oil  and  wine ;  and  setting  him 
upon  his  own  beast,  brought  him  to  an  inn  and 
took  care  of  him.  And  the  next  day  he  took  out  two 
pence,  and  give  it  to  the  host,  and  said:  Take  care 
of  him;  and  whatsoever  thou  shalt  spend  over  and 
above,  I,  at  my  return,  will  repay  thee." 

And  our  Lord  asked  the  lawyer  which  of  these 
three  men  had  shown  himself  neighbor  to  the  poor 
man?  and  he  answered:  "He  that  showed  mercy 
to  him.  And  Jesus  said  to  him:  Go,  and  do  thou 
in  like  manner." 

Henry:  Grandma,  why  does  our  Lord  give  a 
parable  in  which  he  shows  the  priests  and  Levites 
as  unkind  to  this  poor  man,  and  the  Samaritan  good 
to  him?  Yet,  the  priests  were  Jews,  and  his  chosen 
people,  were  they  not? 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  purposely  tells  this  parable 
to  humble  the  Levites  and  priests,  who  thought 
themselves  superior  to  all  other  men,  and  who 
despised  the  Samaritans  especially.  He  wished  to 
teach  that  all  men  had  a  right  to  God's  grace  and 
favor,  and  that  he  had  come  to  save  all  men. 


180   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  LVII. 

MARTHA  AND  MARY. 

Grandma:  Jesus,  in  his  journey  through  Judea, 
stopped  on  the  way  at  the  village  of  Bethany.  Here 
dwelt  Lazarus,  whom  Jesus  loved,  and  with  him  his 
two  sisters,  Martha  and  Mary.  In  their  house  our 
Lord  stopped  and  accepted  the  hospitality  they 
offered  him. 

While  Martha  busied  herself  with  great  concern 
to  prepare  the  evening  meal  for  our  Lord,  and  all 
things  needful  to  his  comfort,  Mary  sat  at  our  Lord's 
feet  listening  to  his  words.  Martha  said  to  Christ: 
"Lord,  hast  thou  no  care  that  my  sister  hath  left 
me  alone  to  serve?  Speak  to  her,  therefore,  that 
she  help  me.  And  the  Lord  answering  said  to  her: 
Martha,  Martha,  thou  art  careful,  and  art  troubled 
about  many  things.  But  one  thing  is  necessary. 
Mary  hath  chosen  the  best  part,  which  shall  not  be 
taken   away  from  her." 

Louis:  It  seems  to  me  Martha  was  right  in  com- 
plaining that  Mary  did  not  help  her;  for,  after  all, 
Martha  was  very  busy  because  she  wanted  to  give 
Jesus  a   good   meal. 


Martha,  and  Mary 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    181 

Grandma:  And  our  Lord  does  not  blame  her. 
He  only  shows  her  that  those  things  which  fill  her 
mind  are  of  very  little  importance.  He  tells  her 
only  one  thing  is  necessary. 

Jack:  And  he  don't  tell  her  what  that  one  thing 
is? 

Grandma:  Yes;  he  indicates  plainly  what  it  is; 
for  he  says:  Mary  has  chosen  the  better  part, 
which  is  to  remain  near  him  listening  to  his  words 
and  drawing  profit  from  his  teaching.  And  Christ 
adds,  that  he  will  not  compel  her  to  give  up  this 
happiness. 

Jack:     Then  Martha  had  to  do  the  work  alone? 

Grandma:  It  is  likely  Martha  had  servants  to 
carry  out  her  orders,  for  Lazarus  was  a  rich  man. 
Herein  our  Lord  gives  Martha,  as  well  as  ourselves, 
a  lesson.  He  warns  us  against  worrying  and  fretting 
over  the  things  of  this  world  to  the  extent  of  neg- 
lecting the  things  of  God. 

Jack:  But  some  one  had  to  prepare  what  our 
Lord  needed. 

Grandma:  Yes;  but  not  at  the  cost  of  neglecting 
our  Lord  himself.  Here  we  see  Martha  leaving  our 
Lord's  company  to  prepare  for  him  a  good  evening 
meal,  for  which  our  Lord  cared  very  little. 

Jane:  That's  true,  she  should  have  given  her 
orders  to  the  servants,  and  listened  to  our  Lord, 
together  with  Mary. 

Grandma:     This  reproach  which  Martha  made  to 


182   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Mary  Magdalene,  and  to  which  our  Lord  replies  so 
clearly,  is  still  made  by  people  living  in  the  world 
to  those  who  are  living  in  convents.  They  judge 
that  the  religious  are  leading  useless  lives.  But  to 
this  reproach  we  have  the  reply  of  our  Lord  to  Martha, 
that  they  have  chosen  the  better  part,  which  shall 
not  be  taken  from  them. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    183 


CHAPTER  LVIII. 

THE  BARREN  FIG  TREE. 

Grandma:  One  day  our  Lord  gave  the  following 
parable  to  his  disciples:  "A  certain  man  had  a  fig 
tree  planted  in  his  vineyard,  and  he  came  seeking 
fruit  on  it,  and  found  none.  And  he  said  to  the 
dresser  of  the  vineyard :  Behold,  for  these  three  years 
I  come  seeking  fruit  on  this  fig  tree,  and  I  find  none. 
Cut  it  down,  therefore;  why  cumbereth  it  the 
ground?  But  he,  answering,  said  to  him:  Lord, 
let  it  alone  this  year  also,  until  I  dig  about  it,  and 
dung  it.  And  if  happily  it  bear  fruit;  but  if  not, 
then  after  that  thou  shalt  cut  it  down." 

Valentine:      What    does    this    parable    mean, 
Grandma? 

Grandma:  The  fig  tree,  cultivated  and  carefully 
tended,  is  the  figure  of  a  soul  encouraged  and 
trained  to  bear  fruit — the  fruits  of  good  deeds.  The 
good  God  waits  patiently,  but  seeing  that  this  soul 
bears  no  fruit  in  spite  of  the  care  lavished  upon  it  by 
the  vine  dresser,  who  represents  the  priests,  he 
orders  that  it  be  cut  down.  This  means  abandoned, 
left  to  itself.     But  the  priest  intercedes  for  this  soul, 


184   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

and  begs  our  Lord  to  wait,  pleading  that,  with  time, 
this  soul  may  be  converted  and  bear  fruit  for  his 
kingdom.  And  the  voice  of  the  priest  is  heard. 
God  is  good  and  consents  to  wait. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    185 


CHAPTER  LIX. 

THE  CURE  OF  THE  WOMAN  BENT  DOUBI.E. 

Grandma:  One  Sabbath  day  our  Lord  was 
teaching  in  the  synagogue  and  "there  was  a  woman 
who  had  a  spirit  of  infirmity  eighteen  years ;  and  she 
was  bowed  together,  neither  could  she  look  upwards 
at  all."  Jesus  seeing  the  poor  woman  so  grievously 
afflicted,  called  her  to  him  and  said  to  her :  "Woman, 
thou  art  delivered  from  thy  infirmity.  And  he  laid 
his  hands  upon  her,  and  immediately  she  was  made 
straight  and  glorified  God." 

And  the  ruler  of  the  synagogue  was  angry  that 
Jesus  had  healed  on  the  Sabbath  day  and  he  said 
to  the  people:  "Six  days  there  are  wherein  you 
ought  to  work.  In  them,  therefore,  come  and  be 
healed;  and  not  on  the  Sabbath  day." 

But  Jesus  replied:  "Ye  hypocrites,  doth  not 
every  one  of  you,  on  the  Sabbath  day,  loose  his  ox 
or  his  ass  from  the  manger,  and  lead  them  to  water? 
And  ought  not  this  daughter  of  Abraham,  whom 
Satan  hath  bound,  lo,  these  eighteen  years,  be 
loosed  from  this  bond  on  the  Sabbath  day?"  And 
the  enemies  of  our  Lord  were  ashamed  when  they 
heard  his  wise  answer,  and  the  people  around 
wondered   at   his   wisdom. 


186   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  LX. 

CHRIST  WEEPS  OVER  JERUSALEM. 

Grandma:  One  day,  as  Christ  neared  Jerusalem, 
looking  down  on  the  city  from  one  of  the  surrounding 
hills  he  wept,  saying:  "Jerusalem,  Jerusalem, 
thou  that  killest  the  prophets,  and  stonest  them  that 
are  sent  to  thee,  how  often  would  I  have  gathered 
thy  children,  as  the  hen  doth  her  brood  under  her 
wings,  and  thou  wouldst  not." 

Paul:     Grandma,  what  means  to  stone? 

Grandma:  To  stone  was  to  put  to  death;  to  kill 
by  throwing  stones  at  the  victim.  This  was  a 
means  of  torture  among  the  Jews. 

Jane:  Why  does  our  Lord  say  he  would  have 
gathered  the  children  of  Jerusalem  under  his  wings? 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  sighed  and  wept  over  Jeru- 
salem with  these  sad  words,  because  Jerusalem 
being  the  capital  of  Judea,  the  place  where  the  Jews 
gathered,  our  Lord  had  many  times  gone  thither  to 
instruct  the  Jewish  people  and  to  deliver  them  from 
the  power  of  the  evil  one ;  to  bring  them  salvation ; 
to  teach  them  the  truth;  and  they  would  not^ listen 
to  him.  Then  he  added  these  words,  predicting 
the  downfall  of  Jerusalem:  "Your  houses  shall  be 
deserted;  you  shall  not  see  me  till  you  shall  say: 
Blessed  be  he  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord." 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    187 


CHAPTER  LXI. 

A  PARABLE  ON  HUMILITY. 

Grandma:  One  day  Jesus  was  invited  to  the 
house  of  a  Pharisee  to  take  dinner;  and  seeing  that 
the  guests  who  were  invited  were  disputing  among 
themselves  as  to  who  should  have  the  first  seat,  he 
gave  them  a  lesson  in  humility,  saying: 

"When  thou  art  invited  to  a  wedding,  sit  not 
down  in  the  first  place,  lest  perhaps  one  more  honor- 
able than  thou  be  invited  by  him;  and  he  that  in- 
vited thee  and  him,  come  and  say  to  thee:  Give 
this  man  place;  and  then  thou  begin  with  shame 
to  take  the  lowest  place.  But  when  thou  art  in- 
vited, go,  sit  down  in  the  lowest  place;  that  when 
he  who  invited  thee  cometh,  he  may  say  to  thee: 
Friend,  go  up  higher.  Then  shalt  thou  have  glory 
before  them  that  sit  at  table  with  thee.  Because 
every  one  that  exalteth  himself,  shall  be  humbled ; 
and  he  that  humbleth  himself,  shall  be  exalted." 

Peter:  Grandma,  I  don't  see  that  this  is  a  lesson 
in  humility.     It  seems  to  me  an  example  of  pride. 

Grandma:     Where  do  you  see  pride,    little  one? 

Peter:  Our  Lord  tells  them  when  they  are  in- 
vited they  must  not  take  the  first  place,  but  must 


188   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

take  the  last  place.  He  don't  say  to  do  this  through 
humility,  but  that  the  master  of  the  feast  may  give 
them  a  better  place. 

Grandma:  This  parable  is  a  comparison,  and 
comparisons  are  never  perfect.  But  if  you  listen 
carefully,  and  try  to  follow  our  Lord's  thought,  you 
will  see  that  he  wants  to  teach  principally  that 
they  should  not  choose  the  first  places.  He  tells 
them  that  all  men  who  strive  to  be  exalted  will  be 
humbled  before  God,  and  often  also  before  men. 

Our  Lord  spoke  also  to  his  host,  and  said  to  him: 
"When  thou  makcth  a  dinner  or  a  supper,  call  not 
thy  friends,  nor  thy  brethren,  nor  thy  kinsmen,  nor 
thy  neighbors  who  are  rich;  lest  perhaps  they  also 
invite  thee  again,  and  a  recompense  be  made  to  thee. 
But  when  thou  makest  a  feast,  call  the  poor,  the 
maimed,  the  lame,  and  the  blind.  And  thou  shalt  be 
blessed,  because  they  have  not  wherewith  to  make 
thee  recompense ;  for  recompense  shall  be  made  thee 
at  the  resurrection  of  the  just." 

Henrietta:  Then,  Grandma,  why  do  you  invite 
us  to  dinner,  and  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the 
neighborhood  who  are  rich  and  ask  you  to  dine  with 
them  ?     Why  don 't  you  invite  the  poor  of  the  village  ? 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  does  not  forbid  us  to  show 
hospitality  to  our  kinsmen  and  to  the  rich.  He 
teaches  us  that  we  must  never  do  good  in  order  to 
receive  a  reward.  He  uses  dinners  and  feasts  to 
represent  all  kinds  of  courtesies  and  kind  services, 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    189 

which  he  wants  us  to  give  all  men,  not  that  they  may 
return  these  kindnesses  to  us,  but  to  obey  the  com- 
mand of  God.  He  also  teaches  us  we  must  desire 
reward  only  from  God  and  God  alone. 


190   THK  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XLII. 

PARABLE   OF  THE   FEAST. 

Grandma:  One  of  the  guests  seated  at  the  table, 
whom  the  Gospel  does  not  name,  said  to  our  Lord: 
"Blessed  is  he  that  shall  eat  bread  in  the  kingdom 
of  God." 

To  whom  our  Lord  replied  by  another  parable. 
*'A  certain  man  made  a  great  supper,  and  invited 
many.  And  he  sent  his  servant  at  the  hour  of  sup- 
per to  say  to  them  that  were  invited,  that  they 
should  come,  for  now  all  things  are  ready.  And  they 
began  all  at  once  to  make  excuse.  The  first  said 
to  him:  I  have  bought  a  farm,  and  I  must  needs 
go  out  and  see  it;  I  pray  thee,  hold  me  excused. 
And  another  said:  I  have  bought  five  yoke  of 
oxen,  and  I  go  to  try  them;  I  pray  thee,  hold  me 
excused.  And  another  said:  I  have  married  a 
wife,  and  therefore  I  cannot  come.  And  the  ser- 
vant returning  told  these  things  to  his  lord.  Then 
the  master  of  the  house,  being  angry,  said  to  his 
servant:  Go  out  quickly  into  the  streets  and  lanes 
of  the  city,  and  bring  in  hither  the  poor,  and  the 
feeble,  and  the  blind,  and  the  lame.  And  the  ser- 
vant   said:     Lord,    it    is    done  as  thou  hast   com- 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    191 

manded,  and  yet  there  is  room.  And  the  Lord  said 
to  the  servant :  Go  out  into  the  highways  and  hed- 
ges, and  compel  them  to  come  in,  that  my  house  may 
be  filled.  But  I  say  unto  you,  that  none  of  those 
men   that   were  invited  shall  taste  of  my  supper." 

Jack:  What  does  our  Lord  mean  by  this  parable? 
Must  we  really  compel  people  to  come  to  our  feasts, 
when  the  invited  ones  don't  come? 

Grandma:  No,  dear  child;  this  parable  signifies 
the  feast  to  which  we  are  one  and  all  invited — to  the 
joys  of  paradise;  to  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  Our 
Lord  gives  this  parable  in  reply  to  the  guest  who 
speaks  of  the  feast  in  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  of 
the  happiness  of  being  gathered  there. 

The  meaning  is  this:  the  Jews  were  the  first 
who  had  the  happiness  of  being  invited  to  this  king- 
dom; the  first  bidden  to  sit  at  their  Father's  table. 
However,  instead  of  accepting  with  gladness,  they 
let  themselves  be  led  away  by  the  pleasures  of  this 
world,  even  as  we  do  to-day.  One  has  not  the  time 
to  serve  God,  he  has  too  many  things  to  see  to; 
another  has  pleasures,  balls,  parties,  which  fill  every 
hour  of  his  day.  Another  has  interesting  books, 
charming  friends,  worldly  pursuits,  which  take  up 
his  time  so  fully,  he  has  not  a  moment  free  for  God's 
service.  Another  is  delicate  and  has  a  large  family, 
and  so  on.  The  Master,  who  is  God,  sends  his 
servants,  the  priests,  to  warn  them,  to  tell  them  that 
the  feast  is  spread,  that  they  must  hold  themselves 


192    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

in  readiness  to  reply  to  our  Lord's  invitation.  They 
do  not  barken  to  God's  call,  they  refuse  to  hear  the 
voice  of  the  priests.  Then  God  sends  his  ministers 
to  foreign  shores  to  convert  the  heathens  and 
pagans.  These  heed  the  voice  of  God's  messengers, 
and  come  in  large  numbers  to  the  heavenly  banquet. 
That  is  to  say,  these  are  converted  and  learn  the 
truths   of  God's   kingdom. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  UFE  OF  CHRIST    193 


CHAPTER  LXIII. 

WE  ARE  TO  LOVE  GOD  ABOVE  Ahh. 

Grandma:  One  day  as  our  Lord  was  walking, 
followed  by  a  large  crowd,  he  turned  and  said  to 
them:  "If  any  man  come  to  me,  and  hate  not  his 
father,  and  mother,  and  wife,  and  children,  and 
brethren,  and  sisters,  yea,  and  his  own  life  also,  he 
cannot  be  my   disciple." 

Jane:  Grandma,  that  would  be  wrong,  it  seems 
to  me,  to  hate  our  relations. 

Grandma:  You  forget  that  our  Lord  speaks 
figuratively,  as  when  he  speaks  of  cutting  off  our 
hands  and  our  feet,  if  they  are  to  us  an  occasion  of 
sin.  Our  Lord  here  means  that  if  we  wish  to  be 
his  friends  and  disciples,  we  must  fear  sin  and  avoid 
temptation  with  such  care  that  if  it  came  to  us,  even 
through  our  parents  and  those  we  love  best,  we 
must  turn  from  them,  in  spite  of  the  love  we  bear 
them  and  the  respect  we  owe  them. 

Louis:  Grandma,  how  could  evil  come  to  us 
from  our  parents  and  sisters  and  brothers? 

Grandma:  In  the  early  centuries,  after  the 
coming  of  Christ — 


194    THE  CHILDRKN'S  LIFT":  OF  CHRIST 

Pa  III :     What  are  centuries  ? 

Grandma:  A  century  is  one  hundred  years.  In 
these  first  centuries  the  Roman  emperors  martyred 
the  Christians. 

Henry:     What  is  martyred? 

Grandma:  Martyred  means  put  to  death  for 
truth's  sake.  The  Roman  emperors  forbade  the 
Christians  to  believe  in  Christ  Jesus,  and  in  order  to 
force  them  to  deny  Christ  and  adore  idols,  they 
tortured  them,  martyred  them  most  cruelly.  These 
noble  Christians  preferred  to  die  in  torments  rather 
than  to  deny  their  faith  in  Christ.  They  are, 
therefore,    called    martyrs. 

To  reply  to  Louis,  I  add  that  in  these  early  days 
the  first  Christians  had  to  obey  our  Lord's  command 
of  hating  father  and  mother,  in  order  to  follow  him. 
For  their  pagan  parents  and  friends,  not  believing 
in  Christ,  tempted  these  martyrs  to  deny  Christ,  that 
their  lives  might  be  spared. 

The  martyrs  turned  away  from  the  entreaties  of 
those  most  dear  to  them,  and  for  the  love  of  Christ 
fled  from  the  love  of  father,  mother,  sister,  and 
brother,  rather  than  deny  Jesus.  Now  and  always 
we  must  obey  Christ  Jesus,  even  if  we  have  to  give 
up  our  most  beloved  friends,  our  most  tender 
affections.     This  is  to  love  our  Lord  above  all  things. 

Our  Lord  added:  "And  whosoever  doth  not 
carry  his  cross  and  come  after  me,  is  not  worthy 
of  me." 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    195 

Jane :     How  can  we  carry  a  cross  and  follow  Jesus  ? 

Grandma:  It  is  as  if  our  Lord  said  to  us:  He 
who  does  not  conquer  his  evil  habits,  he  who  does 
not  bear  with  resignation  the  trials  of  this  life,  he  who 
does  not  sacrifice  pleasure  to  duty,  and  follow  me, 
by  imitating  my  charity,  meekness,  and  patience, 
such  a  one  cannot  be  my  disciple,  such  a  one  can- 
not enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 


196    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  LXIV. 

PARABLE  OF  THE  GOOD  SHEPHERD  AND  OF  THE 
LOST  GROAT. 

Grandma:  The  Publicans  and  sinners  drew 
near  to  Jesus  to  hear  his  words.  "And  the  Pharisees 
and  scribes  murmured,  saying:  This  man  receiveth 
sinners,  and  eateth  with  them." 

And  turning  to  these  men  Christ  spoke  to  them 
this  parable:  "What  man  of  you  that  hath  an  hun- 
dred sheep :  and  if  he  shall  lose  one  of  them,  doth 
he  not  leave  the  ninety-nine  in  the  desert,  and  go 
after  that  which  was  lost,  until  he  find  it?  And 
when  he  hath  found  it,  lay  it  upon  his  shoulders, 
rejoicing;  and  coming  home,  call  together  his  friends 
and  neighbors,  saying  to  them:  Rejoice  with  me, 
because  I  have  found  my  sheep  that  was  lost?  I 
say  to  you,  that  even  so  there  shall  be  joy  in 
heaven  upon  one  sinner  that  doth  penance,  more 
than  upon  ninety-nine  just  who  need  not  penance. 
Or  what  woman  having  ten  groats — " 

Paul :     What  is  a  groat  ? 

Grandma:  A  groat  is  a  silver  piece  worth  about 
ten  cents  of  our  money.  Our  Lord  said:  "What 
woman  having  ten     groats,  if  she  lose  one  groat 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    197 

doth  not  light  a  candle,  and  sweep  the  house,  and 
seek  diligently  until  she  find  it?  And  when  she 
hath  found  it,  call  together  her  friends  and  neigh- 
bors, saying  to  them:  Rejoice  with  me,  because  I 
have  found  the  groat  which  I  had  lost?" 

And  looking  tenderly  on  the  sinners,  who  were 
listening  eagerly,  our  Lord  added:  "So  I  say  to 
you,  there  shall  be  joy  before  the  angels  of  God  upon 
one   sinner   doing   penance." 


198    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  LXV. 

THE  PRODIGAL  SON. 

Grandma:  Christ  gave  still  another  parable  to 
show  the  mercy  of  God  for  repentant  sinners.  Still 
addressing  the  multitude,  among  whom  were  doubt- 
less many  sinners,  our  Lord  said:  "A  certain  man 
had  two  sons;  and  the  younger  of  them  said  to  his 
father:  Father,  give  me  the  portion  of  substance 
that  falleth  to  me.  And  he  devided  unto  them  hjs 
substance.  And  not  many  days  after,  the  younger 
son  went  abroad  into  a  far  country,  and  there  wasted 
his  substance,  living  riotously.  And  after  he  has 
spent  all,  there  came  a  mighty  famine  in  that 
country." 

Paul :     What  is  a  famine  ? 

Grandma:  A  famine  is  a  time  of  such  scarcity 
of  food  that  every  one  is  hungry.  The  com  and  the 
wheat  have  failed  and  there  is  little  or  no  food  for 
any  one.  Well,  in  that  country  there  was  a  famine 
and  he  began  to  suffer  with  hunger;  and  he  hired 
himself  out  on  a  farm  to  feed  the  swine.  Willingly 
he  would  have  eaten  the  food  given  to  the  hogs,  for 
no  one  gave  him  anything  to  eat.  And  he  thought 
to    himself:     "How    many    hired    servants    in    my 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    199 

father's  house  abound  with  bread,  and  I  here  perish 
with  hunger?  I  will  arise,  and  wiU  go  to  my  father, 
and  say  to  him:  Father,  I  have  sinned  against 
heaven,  and  before  thee.  I  am  not  now  worthy  to 
be  called  thy  son;  make  me  as  one  of  thy  hired 
servants." 

"And  rising  up  he  came  to  his  father.  And 
when  he  was  yet  a  great  way  off,  his  father  saw  him, 
and  was  moved  with  compassion,  and  running  to 
him  fell  upon  his  neck  and  kissed  him.  And  the 
son  said  to  him:  Father,  I  have  sinned  against 
heaven,  and  before  thee.  I  am  not  now  worthy  to 
be  called  thy  son." 

But  the  father  only  answered  by  embracing  him, 
and  said  to  the  servants:  "Bring  forth  quickly  the 
first  robe  and  put  it  on  him,  and  put  a  ring  on  his 
hand  and  shoes  on  his  feet;  and  bring  hither  the 
fatted  calf  and  kill  it,  and  let  us  eat  and  make  merry, 
because  this  my  son  was  dead,  and  is  come  to  life 
again;  was  lost,  and  is  found.  And  they  began  to 
be  merry." 

Jack:  How  happy  that  son  must  have  been! 
I  wonder  if  I  ran  away  and  spent  all  my  money,  if 
my  father  would  treat  me  that  way  if  I  came  back? 

Grandma:  Perhaps  he  would,  because  he  is  a 
very  good  father;  but  perhaps  he  would  not  be  so 
forgiving,  for  though  a  very  good  father,  he  is  not 
as  good  as  the  Good  God.  This  parable  speaks  of 
God,  our  heavenly  Father,  of  his  goodness  to  us. 


200   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

sinful  men.  First  our  Lord  tells  us  of  the  son,  happy 
in  his  father's  house,  but  who  believes  he  would  be 
happier  far  from  home. 

This  may  be  a  description  of  any  one  of  us.  We 
live  happily  under  the  law  of  God.  Some  day  we 
are  tempted  to  believe  that  far  from  God  and  the 
restraint  of  his  law  we  may  be  happier.  We  give  up 
our  prayers,  our  good  habits,  the  practice  of  virtue; 
we  are  led  away  by  the  pleasures  of  this  world  and 
we  withdraw  from  God.  We  waste  our  health,  our 
fortune,  and  our  happiness  in  all  kinds  of  worldly 
follies.  When  we  are  unhappy  and  the  world 
thrusts  us  aside,  when  we  suffer  from  want  of  love 
and  of  sympathy,  then  we  recall  our  former  happiness, 
and  the  peace  of  conscience  we  enjoyed  when  we 
were  innocent.  And  if  we  have  the  courage,  we 
make  a  brave  resolve  to  leave  this  strange  land, 
which  is  indeed  a  strange  land  to  all  good  Christians, 
and  to  return  to  God,  our  Father. 

We  leave,  therefore,  this  c  untry  with  its  people, 
which  are  our  sins  and  vices;  we  go  to  our  Father; 
we  humble  ourselves,  we  confess  our  sins,  we  ac- 
knowledge we  are  unworthy  of  his  forgiveness.  Our 
heavenly  Father,  instead  of  driving  us  from  him,  runs 
to  meet  us,  that  is  to  say,  helps  our  repentance,  gives 
us  the  grace  to  be  humble.  He  gives  us  back  our 
place  among  his  servants  and  faithful  friends, 
among  good  Christians.  He  invites  us  to  his  table 
of  Holy  Communion,  and  feeds  us  with  his  own  body 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    201 

and  blood.     All  the  past  is  forgiven  and  forgotten. 

This  parable  is  called:  "The  Prodigal  Son,"  and 
perhaps  more  than  any  other  parable  expresses  the 
great  goodness  and  great  mercy  of  God.  If  any 
one  of  you,  but  I  hope,  indeed,  you  never  will,  offend 
God,  our  Father,  like  this  prodigal  son,  do  not  lose 
courage.  Remember  that  God  is  infinitely  good, 
recognize  your  faults,  pray  God's  pardon  and  confess 
them  humbly  and  sincerely.  The  good  God  will 
open  wide  his  arms  and  heart  to  you  and  will  give 
you  back  your  lost  peace  and  joy. 

When  the  prodigal  son  came  home,  his  elder 
brother  was  in  the  field,  "and  when  he  drew  nigh  to 
the  house,  he  heard  music  and  dancing.  And  he 
called  one  of  the  servants,  and  asked  what  these 
things  meant.  And  he  said  to  him*  Thy  brother 
is  come,  and  thy  father  hath  killed  the  fatted  calf,  be- 
cause he  hath  received  him  safe.  And  he  was  angry 
and  would  not  go  in.  His  father,  therefore,  coming 
out  began  to  entreat  him.  And  he  answering,  said 
to  his  father:  Behold,  for  so  many  years  do  I  serve 
thee,  and  I  have  never  transgressed  thy  command- 
ment, and  yet  thou  hast  never  given  me  a  kid  to 
make  merry  with  my  friends.  But  as  soon  as  this 
thy  son  is  come,  who  hath  devoured  his  substance, 
thou  hast  killed  for  him  the  fatted  calf.  But  he 
said  to  him:  Son,  thou  art  always  with  me,  and 
all  I  have  is  thine.  But  it  was  fit  we  should  make 
merry  and  be  glad,  for  this  thy  brother  was  dead, 


202    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

and  is  come  to  life  again;  he  was  lost,  and  is  found." 
Jack:  If  I  had  been  in  that  father's  place  I 
would  have  been  very  angry  with  that  son  who  is 
jealous  because  his  brother,  who  comes  back  re- 
pentant and  unhappy,  is  so  well  received. 

Gra-ndma:  The  good  father  in  the  parable  re- 
presents God  our  Father,  who  is  more  forgiving, 
more  tender  than  you  would  ever  be,  my  little  Jack. 
He  reproves  the  son  with  kindness.  In  the  parable 
you  see  he  leaves  the  hall  of  feasting  to  ask  his  son 
to  come  in;  he  listens  to  him  with  patience;  he  ex- 
plains to  him  why  he  receives  the  brother  with  so 
much  joy.  Here  also,  in  the  dealings  of  the  father 
with  his  eldest  son,  our  Lord  shows  us  the  patience 
and  goodness  of  our  heavenly  Father  in  dealing  with 
us. 

See  how  patiently  he  bears  with  us,  how  lovingly 
he  treats  us.  He  waits  for  us,  and  when  we  come 
back  to  him,  he  rewards  us,  as  if  we  had  never 
offended  him. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    203 


CHAPTER  LXVI. 

PARABIvE  OF  THE  RICH  MAN  AND  LAZARUS. 

Grandma:  One  day,  addressing  the  Pharisees, 
Jesus  spoke  to  them  this  parable:  "There  was  a 
certain  rich  man,  who  was  clothed  in  purple  and 
fine  linen—" 

Paid:     What  is  purple? 

Grandma:  It  was  a  very  rare  and  very  beautiful 
material,  which  was  woven  of  threads  dyed  with 
that  precious  color.  Our  Lord  by  this  discription 
indicates  the  man  was  rich  and  wore  costly  garments. 

And  our  Lord  added  how  "each  day  he  fared 
sumptuously.  And  there  was  a  certain  beggar, 
named  Lazarus,  who  lay  at  his  gate,  full  of  sores,  and 
desiring  to  be  fed  with  the  crumbs  that  fell  from  the 
rich  man's  table,  and  no  one  did  give  him  any. 
Moreover,  the  dogs  came  and  licked  his  sores.  And 
it  came  to  pass,  that  the  beggar  died  and  was 
carried  by  the  angels  into  Abraham's  bosom." 

Elizabeth:     What  does  that  mean,  Grandma? 

Grandma:  It  is  an  expression  which  means  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,  where  the  beggar  was  carried, 
to  be  happy  eternally. 


204   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRLST 

"And  the  rich  man  also  died;  and  he  was  buried 
in  hell.  And  lifting  up  his  eyes  when  he  was  in 
torments,  he  saw  Abraham  afar  off,  and  Lazarus 
in  his  bosom;  and  he  cried,  and  said:  Father 
Abraham,  have  mercy  on  me,  and  send  me  Lazarus, 
that  he  may  dip  the  tip  of  his  finger  in  water,  to  cool 
my  tongue;  for  I  am  tormented  in  this  flame.  And 
Abraham  said  to  him:  Son,  remember  that  thou 
didst  receive  good  things  in  thy  lifetime,  and  like- 
wise Lazarus  evil  things,  but  now  he  is  comforted, 
and  thou  art  tormented. 

"And  besides  all  this,  between  us  and  you  there  is 
fixed  a  great  chaos;  so  that  they  who  would  pass 
from  hence  to  you,  cannot,  nor  from  thence  come 
hither. 

"And  he  said:  Then,  Father,  I  beseech  thee,  that 
thou  wouldst  send  him  to  my  father's  house,  for  I 
have  five  brethren,  that  he  may  testify  to  them,  lest 
they  also  come  into  this  place  of  torments. 

"And  Abraham  said  to  him:  They  have  Moses 
and  the  prophets;  let  them  hear  them.  But  he 
answered:  No,  Father  Abraham;  but  if  one  went 
to  them  from  the  dead,  they  will  do  penance.  And 
he  said  to  him:  If  they  hear  not  Moses  and  the 
prophets,  neither  will  they  believe  if  one  rise  again 
from  the  dead." 

Madeleine:     This  is  a  terrible  parable. 

Grandma:  Yes;  terrible  for  the  rich  who  do  not 
use  their  wealth  well,  as  there  are,  unfortunately, 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    205 

many.  You  see,  our  Lord  does  not  say  that  the 
rich  man  was  wicked  or  unjust,  but  only  that  he 
dressed  gorgeously  and  ate  sumptuously;  that  he 
lived  in  the  midst  of  pleasures  and  luxury.  He  did 
not  drive  Lazarus  from  his  gate  where  he  lay,  but 
he  did  not  think  of  him,  he  did  not  succor  him,  he 
did  not  feed  him.  It  was  for  this  life  of  indolence 
and  uselessness,  for  his  indifference  to  the  sufferings 
of  Lazarus,  that  the  rich  man  was  cast  into  hell. 
The  rich  who  live  in  opulence  and  do  not  give  to  the 
poor,  but  spend  their  wealth  seeking  pleasures,  are 
described  by  this  rich  man. 

Such  people  prepare  for  themselves  an  eternity 
of  unhappiness  in  exchange  for  a  few  years  of  en- 
joyment here  below.  The  rich  man  asks  for  a  drop 
of  water  to  refresh  his  parched  tongue.  This  is 
denied  him.  He  asks  that  the  dead  be  sent  to  warn 
his  brethren,  but  this  also  is  refused,  for  these 
brothers  had  the  means  of  knowing  their  duty. 
They  heard  the  truths  of  God's  kingdom  preached 
by  the  prophets;  and  if  they  refused  to  believe  God's 
messengers,  they  would  not  even  believe  if  one  risen 
from  the  dead  had  come  to  them. 

Christ  continued  speaking  to  the  multitude,  and 
he  converted  many. 

The  Pharisees  heard  how  the  multitude  praised 
Jesus,  they  saw  the  miracles  that  he  did  and  the 
admiration  in  which  the  people  held  him.     They 


206   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

grew  daily  more  jealous  and  angry.  They  had 
decided  among  themselves  to  put  Jesus  to  death,  and 
they  were  seeking  an  occasion  to  condemn  him. 


THE  CHILDREN'S   UFE  OF  CHRIST    207 


CHAPTER  LXVII. 

THE  PHARISEES  SEEK  TO  LAY  HOI.D  OF  JESUS. 

Grandma:  On  the  last  day  of  the  Feast  of  the 
Tabernacles — 

Louis :     What  was  that  feast  ? 

Grandma:  The  Feast  of  the  Tabernacles  was 
instituted  by  the  Jewish  people,  in  remembrance  of 
their  journey  in  the  desert,  when  they  had  fled  from 
Egypt.  It  lasted  eight  days,  and  to  recall  to  mind 
those  days  when  they  had  dwelt  in  tents,  the  people 
of  Jerusalem  spent  these  days  in  tents  made  of  the 
boughs  of  trees. 

On  the  last  day  of  this  festival  the  Pharisees  sent 
men  to  lay  hold  of  our  Lord  and  seize  him  while  he 
spoke  to  the  people.  But  Christ  Jesus  spoke  so 
well,  he  inspired  such  love  and  confidence,  that  these 
men  dared  not  apprehend  him,  and  they  returned 
to  the  head  priest,  saying.  "Never  did  man  speak 
like  this  man." 

The  Pharisees  answered  angrily:  "Are  you  also 
seduced?  Hath  any  one  of  the  rulers  believed  in 
him,  or  of  the  Pharisees?  But  this  multitude,  that 
knoweth  not  the  law,  are  accursed." 

Jack:     Were  they  accursed  ? 


208   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Grand  ma :  No ;  but  the  Pharisees  in  their  arrogant 
pride  said  this,  for  they  considered  that  they  alone 
had  the  right  to  teach.  Yet  these  simple  people 
were  nearer  the  truth  than  they. 

This  happens  even  in  our  day  and  everywhere. 
Men  of  science  think  themselves  more  learned  and 
wise  than  the  simple  souls  who  are  humbly  studying 
the  lives  of  the  saints,  and  who,  enlightened  by 
God's  spirit,  have  often  a  deeper  knowledge  than 
the  wise  of  this  world. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    209 


CHAPTER    LXVIII. 

THE  SINFUI.  WOMAN. 

Grandma:  I  shall  now  relate  to  you  another 
instance  of  our  Lord's  great  goodness  and  mercy. 
One  day  after  having  prayed  on  Mount  Olivet,  our 
Lord  went  to  the  temple  to  teach  the  people.  The 
Scribes  and  Pharisees  brought  him  a  wicked  woman 
who  had  deceived  her  husband.  And  they  told 
our  Lord  how  her  evil  ways  had  been  found  out,  and 
said  they:  "Moses  in  the  law  commanded  us  to 
stone  such  a  one;  but  what  sayest  Thou?" 

Our  Lord  read  their  thoughts,  and  knew  they  had 
brought  this  woman  to  him  not  to  consult  him,  but 
in  an  evil  spirit,  hoping  to  find  cause  of  complaint 
against  him.  If  he  had  ordered  her  to  be  stoned 
they  would  have  accused  him  of  cruelty;  or  of  dis- 
obeying the  law  of  Moses,  if  he  had  forgiven  her. 

"But  Jesus,  bowing  himself  down,  wrote  with  his 
finger  on  the  ground — " 

Louis:     What  did  our  Lord  write? 

Grandma:  The  Gospel  does  not  tell  us,  but  as  he 
read  their  evil  hearts,  it  is  supposed  that  Christ 
wrote,  either  sentences  from  the  Scriptures  condem- 
ning the  hypocrisy  of  the  Pharisees,  or  that  he  wrote 
in  the  sand  the  secret  sins  of  these  men. 


210   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

As  the  Pharisees  continued  to  question  our  Lord, 
"he  lifted  himself  up  and  said  to  them:  He  that  is 
without  sin  among  you,  let  him  first  cast  a  stone  at 
her.  And  again  stooping  down,  he  wrote  on  the 
ground.  But  they  hearing  this,  went  out  one  by 
one,  beginning  at  the  eldest." 

Little  Louis:  Why  was  that?  Wliy  did  the 
eldest  go  out  first  ? 

Grandma:  Because  the  eldest  were  probably  the 
most  sinful. 

And  Jesus  remained  alone  with  this  woman,  who 
stood  before  him  trembling.  "Then  Jesus,  lifting 
himself,  said  to  her:  Woman,  where  are  they  that 
accused  thee?     Hath  no  man  condemned  thee?" 

The  woman  replied  humbly:  "No  man,  Lord. 
And  Jesus  said :  Neither  will  I  condemn  thee.  Go, 
and  now  sin  no  more." 

And  those  who  heard  this  judgment  admired  the 
charity  and  goodness  of  Jesus. 

Then  Christ  spoke  to  the  people  assembled  in 
the  temple.  He  told  them  he  was  the  Messias,  the 
Son  of  God,  sent  by  his  Father  to  save  the  world 
from  sin.  He  showed  them  how  blind  of  heart  they 
were,  who  did  not  believe  in  his  words,  and  who 
would  not  recognize  in  him  the  Messias.  He  recalled 
to  their  minds  the  good  counsels  he  had  given  them, 
and  which  had  stirred  their  hearts.  He  reminded 
them  of  the  many  miracles  he  had  performed  in 
their  favor. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    211 

Alas,  many  of  these  Jews  were  so  hard-hearted 
that,  instead  of  being  moved  and  touched  by  the 
words  of  Christ,  they  took  up  stones  to  stone  him. 
"But  Jesus  hid  himself  and  went  out  of  the  temple," 
unharmed,  for  the  time  had  not  yet  come  when  he 
would  lay  down  his  life  for  all  men. 


212   THE  CHILDRENS'  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  LXIX. 

CURE  OF  THE  MAN  BORN  BLIND. 

Grandma:  "And  passing  by,  Jesus  saw  a  man, 
who  was  blind  from  his  birth ;  and  his  disciples  asked 
him:  Master,  who  hath  sinned,  this  man  or  his 
parents,  that  he  should  be  bom  blind?  Jesus 
answered:  Neither  hath  this  man  sinned,  nor  his 
parents;  but  that  the  works  of  God  should  be  made 
manifest  in  him.  I  must  work  the  works  of  him  that 
sent  me,  whilst  it  is  day;  the  night  cometh,  when  no 
man  can  work.  As  long  as  I  am  in  the  world,  I  am 
the   light   of   the   world. 

"When  he  had  said  these  things,  he  spat  on  the 
ground,  and  made  clay  of  the  spittle,  and  spread 
the  clay  upon  the  blind  man's  eyes,  and  said  to 
to  him:  Go,  wash  in  the  pool  of  Siloe.  .  .  He 
went  and  washed,  and  he  came  seeing." 

Then  all  the  people  of  the  neighborhood  and  all 
those  who  had  seen  him,  formerly  blind  and  asking 
alms  said:  "Is  not  this  he  that  sat  and  begged? 
Some  said:  This  is  he.  But  others  said:  No,  but 
he  is  like  him.  But  he  said:  I  am  he.  They  said 
therefore  to  him:  How  were  thy  eyes  opened?  He 
answered :     That  man  that  is  called  Jesus  made  clay, 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    213 

and  anointed  my  eyes,  and  said  to  me:  Go  to  the 
pool  of  Siloe  and  wash.  And  I  went,  and  I  washed, 
and  I  see.  And  they  said  to  him:  Where  is  he? 
He    saith:     I    know   not." 

Hearing  this  miracle  from  the  blind  man  they 
took  him  to  the  Pharisees  that  he  himself  might  tell 
them  of  his  cure.  For  it  was  on  the  Sabbath  Day 
that  Jesus  had  performed  this  miracle. 

The  Pharisees  questioned  the  man  as  to  his  cure 
and  he  said:  "He  put  clay  upon  my  eyes,  and  I 
washed,  and  I  see. 

"Some  therefore  of  the  Pharisees  said:  This 
man  is  not  of  God,  who  keepeth  not  the  Sabbath. 
But  others  said:  How  can  a  man  that  is  a  sinner 
do  such  miracles?" 

And  they  disputed  among  themselves,  and  turning 
to  the  blind  man  asked  him:  "What  sayest  thou 
of  him  that  hath  opened  thy  eyes?  And  he  said: 
He  is  a  prophet." 

The  Jews  would  not  believe  that  this  man  had 
been  bom  blind  until  they  called  his  parents  and 
questioned  them.  They  asked  the  parents:  "Is 
this  your  son  who  you  say  was  born  blind?  How 
then  doth  he  now  see?  His  parents  answered  them 
and  said:  We  know  that  this  is  our  son,  and  that 
he  was  bom  blind;  but  how  he  now  seeth,  we  know 
not;  or  who  hath  opened  his  eyes,  we  know  not;  ask 
him,  he  is  of  age  let  him  speak  for  himself." 

This  his  parents  said  because  they  feared  the  Jews, 


214    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

for  the  Pharisees  had  agreed  among  themselves  that 
any  one  who  would  acknowledge  Jesus  to  be  Christ, 
the  Messias,  would  be  driven  out  of  the  synagogue. 

Henry:  What  did  it  matter  to  be  driven  out  of 
the  synagogue? 

Grandma:  It  was  a  shame,  a  disgrace,  a  male- 
diction. The  same  as  an  excommunication  would 
be  to-day;  a  decision  which  would  drive  us  out  of 
the  Church  and  would  be  a  great  disgrace  to  us. 

The  Pharisees  therefore  called  again  this  man  born 
blind  and  said  to  him:  "Give  glory  to  God.  We 
know  that  this  man  is  a  sinner." 

The  blind  man  replied:  "If  he  be  a  sinner,  I 
know  not ;  one  thing  I  know,  that  whereas  I  was  blind 
now  I  see.  They  said  then  to  him :  What  did  he  to 
thee?  How  did  he  open  thy  eyes?  He  answered 
them:  I  have  told  you  already,  and  you  have 
heard;  why  would  you  hear  it  again?  Will  you  also 
become  his  disciples?" 

At  this  question  they  mocked  him  saying:  "Be 
thou  his  disciple,  but  we  are  the  disciples  of  Moses, 
We  know  that  God  spoke  to  Moses;  but  as  to  this 
man,  we  know  not  from  whence  he  is." 

The  blind  man  answered:  "Why,  herein  is  a 
wonderful  thing,  that  you  know  not  from  whence  he 
is,  and  he  hath  opened  my  eyes.  Now  we  know 
that  God  doth  not  hear  sinners;  but  if  a  man  be  a 
server  of  God,  and  doth  his  will,  him  he  heareth. 
From  the  beginning  of  the  world  it  hath  not  been 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    215 

heard  that  any  man  hath  opened  the  eyes  of  one  born 
blind.  Unless  this  man  were  of  God,  he  could  not  do 
anything.  They  answered,  and  said  to  him :  Thou 
wast  wholly  born  in  sins,  and  dost  thou  teach  us?" 
And  they  drove  him  out  of  the  synagogue. 

"Jesus  heard  that  they  had  cast  him  out,"  and  he 
went  to  seek  him.  "When  he  had  found  him  he  said 
to  him:  Dost  thou  believe  in  the  Son  of  God?  He 
answered,  and  said:  Who  is  he,  Lord,  that  I  may 
believe  in  him?  And  Jesus  said  to  him:  Thou  hast 
seen  him,  and  it  is  he  that  talketh  with  thee.  And 
he  said:  I  believe.  Lord.  And  falling  down,  he 
adored  him." 

Jack:  That's  good,  I  like  that  blind  man.  He  is 
grateful  and  brave. 

Henry:  And  how  bad  and  untruthful  those 
Pharisees  are.  They  pretend  not  to  believe  in  the 
power  of  our  Lord. 

Elizabeth:  And  this  poor  blind  man,  ignorant  as 
he  was,  reasoned  better  than  the  wise  Doctors  of 
the  Law.  He  hastened  to  recognize  and  adore  our 
Lord. 

Grandma:  And  therefore  Jesus  said,  addressing 
him  especially:  "For  judgment  I  am  come  into 
this  world;  that  they  who  see  not,  may  see;  and  they 
who  see,  may  become  blind." 

Louis:     What  does  that  mean? 

Grandma:  It  means  our  Lord  came  to  enlighten 
those  who,  from  ignorance,  did  not  see  the  truth. 


216    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

And  they  who,  through  pride,  thought  themselves 
capable  of  seeing  the  trutli,  without  God's  help, 
would  remain  blind  of  heart. 

The  Pharisees  who  were  there  and  who  heard  these 
words,  said  mockingly.  "Are  we  also  bhnd?  Jesus 
said  to  them:  If  you  were  blind,  you  should  not 
have  sin;  but  now  you  say:  We  see.  Your  sin 
remaineth." 

Louis :    What  did  our  Lord  mean ? 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  meant  that  if  the  Pharisees 
had  had  more  humility,  they  would  have  seen  that 
they  were  blind  and  ignorant,  and  would,  therefore, 
have  asked  for  sight.  But  their  pride  prevented 
them  from  acknowledging  their  ignorance  and  asking 
for  faith.  For  this  reason  Jesus  Christ  did  not 
grant  them  sight,  and  they  remained  in  sin,  blind 
to  the  truth. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    217 


CHAPTER  LXX. 

THE  GOOD  SHEPHERD. 

Grandma:  And  our  Lord,  still  teaching  the 
Pharisees  and  the  multitude,  said:  "I  am  the  good 
shepherd.  The  good  shepherd  giveth  his  life  for 
his   sheep.     But    the    hireling — " 

Paul:     What  is  a  hireling? 

Grandma:  A  hireling  is  one  who  is  paid  for  his 
services.  The  shepherd  boy  is  hired  and  paid  to 
care  for  the  sheep. 

Our  Lord  compared  the  shepherd,  the  owner  and 
master  of  the  flock,  to  the  shepherd  whom  the 
master  hired,  and  he  said:  "But  the  hireling,  and 
he  who  is  not  the  shepherd,  whose  own  the  sheep  are 
not,  seeth  the  wolf  coming,  and  leaveth  the  sheep  and 
fiieth;  and  the  wolf  catcheth  and  scattereth  the 
sheep.  And  the  hireling  flieth,  because  he  is  a 
hireling,  and  he  hath  no  care  for  the  sheep.  I  am 
the  good  shepherd,  and  I  know  mine,  and  mine 
know  me.  As  the  Father  knoweth  me,  and  I  know 
the  Father;     and  I  lay  down  my  life  for  my  sheep. 

"And  other  sheep  I  have,  that  are  not  of  this  fold; 
them  also  I  must  bring,  and  they  shall  hear  my  voice, 
and   there   shall   be   one   Fold   and   one   Shepherd. 


218    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Therefore  doth  my  Father  love  mc,  because  I  lay 
down  my  Hfc,  that  I  may  take  it  again.  No  man 
taketh  it  from  me;  but  I  lay  it  down  of  myself,  and 
I  have  pQwer  to  lay  it  down;  and  I  have  power  to 
take  it  up  again." 

Henrietta:  Why  does  our  Lord  say  he  has  other 
sheep.     Where  are  they? 

Grandma:  The  sheep  to  whom  our  Lord  refers 
are  the  pagans.  To  these  sheep  Christ  sent  his 
Apostles  and  their  successors,  the  bishops  and  priests 
of  the  Church,  to  convert  them  to  the  true  Faith. 
These  then  became  Christians,  and  are  therefore  of 
the  same  fold  as  the  people  of  Israel,  who  believe  in 
Christ,  and  to  whom  our  Lord  was  then  speaking. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    219 


CHAPTER  LXXI. 

THE  TEN  LEPERS. 

Grandma:  Jesus  on  his  way  to  Jerusalem  passed 
through  Samaria  and  Galilee.  As  he  neared  a 
small  village,  he  was  met  by  ten  lepers.  "They 
stood  afar  off  and — " 

Jane:     Why  did  they  stand  far  from  our  Lord? 

Grandma:  Because  the  lepers  were  forbidden 
to  come  into  the  villages  and  towns,  or  even  draw 
near  to  those  who  passed  by,  for  fear  of  giving  them 
the  leprosy,  which  is  a  very  contagious  malady,  as 
I  believe  I  have  already  told  you. 

These  lepers,  having  stopped  at  a  distance  from 
Christ,  lifted  up  their  voice,  saying:  "Jesus,  master, 
have  mercy  on  us." 

When  Jesus  saw  them,  he  said  to  them:  "Go, 
show  yourselves  to  the  priests." 

And  as  they  went  on  the  way  they  were  cured. 
One  qf  them,  when  he  saw  he  was  made  clean,  went 
back,  with  a  loud  voice  glorifying  God. 

And  he  fell  on  his  face  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  giving 
him  thanks.     And  this  leper  was  a  Samaritan. 


220    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Then  Jesus  said:  "Were  not  ten  made  clean? 
and  where  are  the  nine?  There  is  no  one  found  to 
return  and  give  glory  to  God,  but  this  stranger." 

And  Christ  said  to  the  grateful  leper:  "Arise,  go 
thy  way;  for  thy  faith  hath  made  thee  whole." 


Christ  Blessing  the  Little  Children 


THE  CHILDRENS'  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    221 


CHAPTER  LXXII. 

THE  PHARISEE  AND  THE  PUBI,ICAN. 
CHRIST  BLESSES  I.ITTI,E  CHIIvDREN. 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  gave  the  following  parable 
to  show  that  we  must  not  have  a  good  opinion  of 
ourselves  and  despise  others:  "Two  men  went  up 
into  the  temple  to  pray :  the  one  a  Pharisee,  the  other 
a  publican.  The  Pharisee,  standing,  prayed  thus 
with  himself:  O  God,  I  gave  thee  thanks  that 
I  am  not  as  the  rest  of  men,  extortioners,  unjust, 
adulterers,  as  also  is  this  publican.  I  fast  twice  in 
a  week ;  I  give  a  tenth  of  all  that  I  possess.  And  the 
publican,  standing  afar  off,  would  not  so  much  as 
lift  up  his  eyes  towards  heaven ;  but  struck  his 
breast,  saying:     O  God,  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner." 

And  Christ  added  that  the  humble  publican  had 
returned  to  his  house  forgiven;  but  not  so  the 
Pharisee,  who  had  made  his  prayer  in  such  a  proud 
spirit;  for,  said  Christ:  "Every  one  that  exalteth 
himself,  shall  be  humbled;  and  he  that  humbleth 
himself,  shall  be  exalted." 

When  he  had  finished  speaking,  they  brought  to 
him  the  little  children,  that  he  might  bless  them. 


222    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

His  disciples  rebuked  those  who  brought  these  little 
ones  to  Jesus,  and  would  have  driven  them  away 
from  our  Lord. 

When  Jesus  saw  this,  he  was  much  displeased;  and 
he  called  the  children  to  him  and  said:  "Suffer  the 
little  children  to  come  to  me,  and  forbid  them  not; 
for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  Amen,  I  say 
to  you:  whosoever  shall  not  receive  the  kingdom  of 
God  as  a  little  child,  shall  not  enter  into  it." 

Jack:  But,  Grandma,  you  can't  become  a  little 
child  again;  and  so  you  will  not  be  able  to  go  to 
heaven,  nor  any  grown  person! 

Grandma:  (laughing):  Indeed,  I  hope  to  enter 
heaven  some  day,  little  one.  Our  Lord  speaks  of  the 
innocence  of  children,  not  of  their  age.  He  wants 
us  to  be  pure  of  all  evil ;  innocent  like  little  children, 
who  never  offend  God.  But  when  a  child  reaches  the 
age  of  reason,  which  is  supposed  to  be  at  seven  years, 
he  then  knows  right  from  wrong,  and  he  may  un- 
fortunately offend  God.  However,  if  he  confesses 
his  sins,  and  is  forgiven  through  the  absolution  he 
receives  from  the  priest,  he  is  once  more  innocent 
and  pure. 

When  the  children  had  been  dismissed,  the  Jews 
questioned  Christ,  asking  who  he  was.  Christ 
answered  clearly  that  he  was  the  Son  of  God,  sent 
by  his  father  to  save  those  who  would  believe  in  him 
and  who  would  keep  his  commandments.  He  told 
them  that  he  and  his  Father  were  One.      But  the 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    223 

Jews,  unwilling  to  believe  that  Jesus  was  Christ,  the 
Son  of  God,  at  these  words,  took  up  stones  to  stone 
him,  but  he  escaped  from  them  unharmed. 


224    THK  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  LXXni. 

CHRIST  AND  THE  RICH  YOUNG  MAN. 

Grandma:  One  day,  as  our  Eord  set  out  on  his 
daily  journeying  to  preach  God's  kingdom,  a  rich 
young  man  ran  up  to  him,  "and  kneehng  before  him, 
asked  him:  Good  Master,  what  shall  I  do  to 
possess  everlasting  life  ?" 

Jesus  answered  him:  "If  thou  wilt  enter  into  life, 
keep  the  commandments." 

And  the  young  man  asked  which  he  should  keep. 
And  Jesus  answered  by  enumerating  the  command- 
ments : 

"Thou  shalt  do  no  murder;  thou  shalt  not  commit 
adultery;  thou  shalt  not  steal,  thou  shalt  not  bear 
false  witness;  honor  thy  father  and  thy  mother; 
and  thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself.  The 
young  man  said  to  him-  All  these  have  I  kept  from 
my  youth,  what  is  yet  wanting  to  me." 

Jesus  looked  at  this  young  man,  so  eager  to  do 
better,  and  he  loved  him;  and  Jesus  said  to  him: 
"If  thou  wilt  be  perfect,  go  sell  what  thou  hast,  and 
give  it  to  the  poor,  and  thou  shalt  have  treasure  in 
heaven ;  and  come  follow  me.     And  when  the  young 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    225 

man  had  heard  this  he  went  away  sad,  for  he  had 
great  possessions," 

Henrietta:  Why  does  our  Lord  want  this  young 
man  to  sell  all  his  possessions  ?  It  is  not  wrong 
to  be  rich. 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  does  not,  in  this  instance, 
command;  he  only  counsels,  advises.  This  young 
man  desired  to  reach  perfection.  From  his  youth 
he  had  kept  the  commandments,  and  yet  he  goes  to 
Christ  with  eagerness,  asking  what  he  shall  do  for 
eternal  life.  For  this  reason  Christ  loved  him,  for  in 
him  he  saw  the  pure  heart  longing  to  do  even  more 
than  the  law  commanded. 

Therefore,  our  Lord  counsels  him  to  sacrifice  the 
goods  of  this  world  and  its  pleasures,  and  to  con- 
secrate himself  to  God,  as  we  see  religious  and  priests 
doing  every  day.  They  give  up  all  the  riches  of 
this  world,  all  its  comforts,  in  order  to  follow  Christ 
more  perfectly.  And  when  our  Lord  saw  that,  in 
spite  of  his  desires,  the  young  man  had  not  the 
courage  to  part  with  his  wealth,  he  looked  around  and 
said:  "How  hardly  shall  they  who  have  riches 
enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God." 

The  disciples  hearing  this  were  greatly  surprised. 
But  Christ  said  a  second  time:  "Children,  how 
hard  it  is  for  them  that  trust  in  riches  to  enter  into 
the  kingdom  of  God.  It  is  easier  for  a  camel  to  pass 
through  the  eye  of  a  needle  than  for  a  rich  man  to 
enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God." 


226    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Henry:  Why,  Grandma,  Iheii  the  rich  won't 
go  to  heaven  ? 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  only  speaks  of  the  rich  who 
are  sclfisli  with  their  wealth,  and  who  refuse  to 
sacrifice  their  riches  to  God's  will.  For  example,  a 
good  Christian  would  prefer  to  lose  all  his  wealth, 
rather  than  keep  it  through  some  dishonest  or  unjust 
deed.  On  the  other  hand,  the  man  who  loves  his 
riches  more  than  the  law  of  God,  which  leads  to 
eternal  life,  w^ould  commit  some  selfish  and  unjust 
action  to  preserve  his  fortune. 

The  disciples  were  surprised,  and  asked  a  question 
very  like  Henry's:  "Who,  then,  can  be  saved?" 
For  they  thought  to  themselves,  no  doubt,  every 
one,  unless  he  be  a  beggar,  has  some  fortune.  And 
Jesus,  looking  at  them,  said :  "With  men  it  is  impos- 
sible; but  not  with  God,  for  all  things  are  possible 
with  God.  Then  Peter  said:  Behold,  we  have  left 
all  things  and  have  followed  thee.  What,  there- 
fore, shall  we  have?  Jesus  said  to  them:  Amen,  I 
say  to  you,  that  you,  who  have  followed  me,  when 
the  Son  of  man  shall  sit  on  the  seat  of  his  majesty,  you 
also  shall  sit  on  twelve  seats,  judging  the  twelve 
tribes  of  Israel.  And  every  one  that  hath  left 
house,  or  brethren,  or  sisters,  or  father  or  mother, 
or  wife,  or  children,  or  lands  for  my  name's  sake, 
shall  receive  an  hundredfold,  and  shall  possess  life 
everlasting.  And  many  that  are  first,  shall  be  last 
and  the  last  shall  be  first." 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    227 

Louis:    How  is  that,  Grandma? 

Grandma:  That  is  to  say  that  many  who  lead 
holy  lives,  and  consequently  seem  destined  to  be  first 
in  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  if  they  do  not  persevere, 
may  become  wicked  like  Judas,  who  betrayed  Christ. 

And  others  who  are  wicked  may  be  converted  and 
become  great  saints,  like  St.  Paul,  who  began  by 
persecuting  the  Christians,  and  who  became  one  of 
the  greatest  of  the  Apostles. 


228   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  LXXIV. 

PARABLE     OF     THE     WORKMEN      IN     THE     VINEYARD. 

Grandma:  To  show  the  Jews  how  other  nations 
of  the  earth,  besides  this  chosen  people,  would 
receive  the  glad  tidings  of  Christ's  redemption,  our 
Lord  gave  them  the  following  parable: 

"The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  to  a  householder, 
who  went  out  early  in  the  morning  to  hire  laborers 
into  his  vineyard.  And  having  agreed  with  the 
laborers  for  a  penny  a  day,  he  sent  them  into  his 
vineyard, 

"And  going  out  about  the  third  hour,  he  saw 
others  standing  in  the  market  place  idle.  And  he 
said  to  them.  Go  you  also  into  my  vineyard,  and 
I  will  give  you  what  shall  be  just.  And  they  went 
their  way.  And  again  he  went  out  about  the  sixth 
and  the  ninth  hour  and  did  in  like  Tianner. 

"But  about  the  eleventh  hour,  he  went  out  and 
found  others  standing,  and  he  saith  to  them:  Why 
stand  you  here  all  the  day  idle?  They  say  to  him: 
Because  no  man  hath  hired  us.  He  saith  to  them: 
Go  you  also  into  my  vineyard. 

"And  when  evening  was  come,  the  lord  of  the 
vineyard   saith   to  his  steward:     Call   the  laborers 


THE  CHILDRENS'  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    229 

and  pay  them  their  hire,  beginning  from  the  last 
even  to  the  first.  When  therefore  they  were  come, 
that  came  about  the  eleventh  hour,  they  received 
every  man  a  penny.  But  when  the  first  also  came, 
they  thought  that  they  should  receive  more;  and 
they  also  received  every  man  a  penny. 

"And  receiving  it,  they  murmured  against  the 
master  of  the  house,  saying:  These  last  have 
worked  but  one  hour,  and  thou  hast  made  them 
equal  to  us,  that  have  borne  the  burden  of  the  day 
and  the  heats.  But  he  answering  said  to  them: 
Friend,  I  do  thee  no  wrong;  didst  thou  not  agree  with 
me  for  a  penny?  Take  what  is  thine  and  go  thy 
way,  I  will  also  give  to  this  last  even  as  to  thee.  Or 
is  it  not  lawful  for  me  to  do  what  I  will?  Is  thy  eye 
evil  because  I  am  good? 

"So  shall  the  last  be  first  and  the  first  last.  For 
many  are  called,  but  few  are  chosen." 

Elizabeth:  Grandma,  it  seems  to  me  that  these 
laborers  who  had  worked  all  day  had  a  right  to 
complain.  They  had  worked  twelve  hours  and  the 
others  one  hour,  and  yet  they  did  not  receive  any 
more  than  the  last  comers. 

Grandma:  Taken  literally  this  parable  seems 
strange  at  first  sight;  for  those  who  had  labored  all 
day  seem  entitled  to  more  pay  than  the  last,  who 
worked  only  a  few  hours.  But  it  is  not  in  this 
sense  our  Lord  means  this  parable  to  be  understood. 
He  gives  this  parable  to  the  Jews,  to  teach  them  that 


230    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

God  does  them  no  injustice  in  giving  to  other 
nations  of  the  earth  the  happiness  of  knowing  Jesus 
Christ,  the  Savior  of  the  world.  The  penny  given 
to  all  the  laborers  equally,  to  the  last  even  as  to  the 
first,  represents  Jesus  Christ,  who  gives  himself 
with  equal  love  to  the  Jews,  to  the  pagans,  and  to  all 
men  of  good  will.  This  penny  promised  as  reward 
by  the  Master,  is  our  Lord  promised  to  all  men  as 
their  Savior,  from  the  beginning  of  the  world. 

Jack:  And  why  don't  the  Master  of  the  house 
drive  away  those  who  murmur  and  complain? 

Grandma:  Because  God  is  infinitely  good,  and 
forgives  their  discontent,  and  even  explains  to  them 
the  seeming  injustice  of  which  they  complain ;  for  he 
says:     "Is  thy  eye  evil  because  I  am  good? 

Jane :     What  does  that  mean  ? 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  means  that  because  I  am 
good  to  these  men  and  reward  their  good  will,  you 
must  not  be  jealous  and  look  upon  this  deed  of  mer- 
cy with  an  evil  eye.  After  this  parable  Jesus  pre- 
dicted to  his  Apostles  that  he  was  going  to  Jerusalem, 
where  he  would  be  delivered  into  the  hands  of  the 
high  priest  and  the  scribes;  and  that  he  would  be 
condemned  to  death,  scourged,  and  crucified;  but 
that  on  the  third  day  he  would  rise  again  from  the 
dead. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    231 


CHAPTER  LXXV. 

THE  RAISING  OF  LAZARUS. 

Grandma:  There  lived  in  the  city  of  Bethany 
a  good  and  wealthy  man  named  Lazarus.  He  was 
the  brother  of  Martha  and  of  Mary.  One  day  he 
fell  ill.  His  sisters,  who  knew  that  Jesus  loved  him, 
sent  messengers  to  say  to  our  Lord:  "He  whom 
thou  lovest  is  sick."  Jesus  said  to  those  who 
brought  the  tidings  of  his  friend's  illness:  "This 
sickness  is  not  unto  death,  but  for  the  glory  of  God; 
that  the  Son  of  God  may  be  glorified  by  it." 

Though  Jesus  loved  Mary  and  Martha  and  Lazarus, 
having  heard  of  their  anxiety,  he  remained  two  days 
longer  in  the  city  where  he  was  at  that  time.  "Then, 
after  that,  he  said  to  his  disciples:  Let  us  go  into 
Judea  again.  The  disciples  say  to  him:  Rabbi, 
the  Jews  but  now  sought  to  stone  thee;  and  goest 
thou  thither  again?" 

Then  Jesus  explained  to  them  that  the  hour  of  his 
death,  predicted  by  the  prophets,  had  not  yet  come. 
He  told  them  that  nothing  could  prevent  the 
approach  of  this  hour;  and  nothing  could  hasten  it; 
but  he  added:  "Our  friend  Lazarus  sleepeth;  but 
I  go  that   I   may  awake  him  out  of  sleep.     His 


232    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

disciples,  therefore,  said:  Lord,  if  he  sleep,  he  shall 
do  well.  But  Jesus  spoke  of  dis  death;  and  they 
thought  that  he  spoke  of  the  repose  of  sleep.  There- 
fore Jesus  said  to  them  plainly;  Lazarus  is  dead. 
And  I  am  glad,  for  your  sakes,  that  I  was  not  there, 
that  you  may  believe;  but  let  us  go  to  him." 

Jack:  Why  was  our  Lord  glad  he  was  not  there? 
He  could  have  cured  him  and  prevented  his  dying. 

Grandma:  Because  our  Lord  knew  he  would 
raise  him  up  from  the  dead ;  and  he  was  glad  that  his 
disciples  should  witness  such  a  miracle. 

"Thomas,  who  is  called  Didymus,  said  to  his 
fellow-disciples;  Let  us  also  go,  that  we  may  die 
with  him." 

You  see,  the  disciples  thought  our  Lord  was  in 
great  danger  in  going  to  Jerusalem. 

Jesus  set  out  with  his  disciples;  and  soon  reached 
Bethany,  which  is  very  near  Jerusalem.  When 
they  arrived,  they  found  that  Lazarus  had  died,  and 
had  been  in  the  grave  four  days. 

Many  of  the  Jews  had  gathered  round  Martha  and 
Mary,  seeking  to  comfort  these  sisters  in  their  great 
sorrow. 

While  Martha  and  Mary  sat  with  their  friends  and 
relatives,  grieving  over  their  loss,  word  was  brought 
to  Martha  that  Jesus  was  approaching. 

In  all  haste  she  went  to  meet  him,  and  she  said 
to  him  sadly:  "Lord,  if  thou  hadst  been  here,  my 
brother  had  not  died.     But  now  I  know  that  what- 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    233 

soever  thou  wilt  ask  of  God,  God  will  give  it  to  thee. 
Jesus  saith  to  her:  Thy  brother  shall  rise  again. 
Martha  saith  to  him :  I  know  that  he  shall  rise  again, 
in  the  ressurection  at  the  last  day.  Jesus  said  to  her: 
I  am  the  ressurection  and  the  life;  he  that  oelieveth 
in  me,  although  he  be  dead,  shall  live;  and  every  one 
that  believeth  in  me  shall  not  die  forever.  Believeth 
thou  this?  She  saith  to  him;  Yea,  Lord,  I  have 
believed  that  thou  art  Christ  the  Son  of  the  living 
God,  who  art  come  into  this  world." 

And  when  she  had  spoken  thus  with  our  Lord, 
she  went  and  called  her  sister,  whispering  to  her: 
"The  Master  is  come,  and  calleth  for  thee." 

Quickly  Mary  rose  and  hastened  to  Jesus,  who  had 
not  yet  entered  the  city,  but  was  still  on  the  outskirts 
of  the  town,  where  Martha  had  met  him. 

The  Jews  seeing  Mary  leave  the  house  in  great 
haste,  thought  she  had  gone  to  her  brother's  grave 
to  weep,  and  they  followed  her. 

When  Mary  met  our  Lord  she  fell  at  his  feet; 
saying,  as  Martha  had  done:  "Lord,  if  thou  hadst 
been  here,  my  brother  had  not  died." 

No  doubt  the  two  sisters  had  said  this  of  our  Lord 
to  one  another  many  times  over  in  the  past  few  days 
of  sadness.  When  Jesus  saw  how  Mary  wept  and 
also  the  friends  and  relatives  who  were  with  her, 
"he  groaned  in  spirit,"  and  was  deeply  moved.  And 
he  asked:  "Where  have  you  laid  him?"  They 
replied:     "Come    and    see."     "And    Jesus    wept." 


234    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Jack:  Why  did  our  Lord  weep?  If  he  loved 
Lazarus  so  much,  why  did  he  not  save  him?  Then 
the  poor  sisters  and  their  friends  would  not  have 
been  so  sad  and  in  so  much  trouble. 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  Jesus  wept,  for  he  was 
grieved  at  the  grief  of  his  friends.  He  shows  us  on 
this  occasion  that,  far  from  blaming  us,  he  sympa- 
thizes with  the  tears  we  shed  at  the  loss  of  our 
parents  and  friends.  Our  Lord  allowed  Lazarus  to 
die  that  he  might  perform  the  great  miracle  of 
raising  him  up  from  the  dead,  and  thus  prove  his 
divine  power  to  the  Jews. 

When  the  Jews  saw  Jesus  weeping  they  said: 
"Behold  how  he  loved  him!  But  some  of  them 
said :  Could  not  he  that  opened  the  eyes  of  the  man 
bom  blind,  have  caused  that  this  man  should  not 
die?" 

Jesus  reached  the  sepulchre  where  Lazarus  was 
buried.  It  was  a  cave  in  front  of  which  a  large  stone 
had  been  rolled.  "Jesus  saith:  Take  away  the 
stone.  Martha  replied:  Lord,  by  now  he  stinketh, 
for  he  is  four  days  buried.  Jesus  saith  to  her :  Did 
not  I  say  to  thee,  that  if  thou  believe,  thou  shalt  see 
the  glory  of  God?  They  took  therefore  the  stone 
away.  And  Jesus,  lifting  up  his  eyes,  said :  Father, 
I  give  thee  thanks  that  thou  hast  heard  me.  And 
I  knew  that  thou  hearest  me  always;  but  because 
of  the  people  who  stand  about  have  I  said  it,  that 
they  may  believe  that  thou  hast  sent  me." 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    235 

When  he  had  thus  prayed  to  his  Father,  "he  cried 
out  with  a  loud  voice:  Lazarus,  come  forth!" 
And  immediately  he  that  had  been  dead  four  days 
rose  up  alive  out  of  the  grave.  His  feet  and  hands 
and  body  were  wrapped  and  bound  in  linen  cloths, 
and  his  face  was  covered  with  a  napkin.  "Loose 
him,"  said  our  Lord,  "and  let  him  go." 

Valentine:  Grandma  why  was  Lazarus  wrapt 
and  bound  in  cloths? 

Grandma:  It  was  the  custom  among  the  Jews  to 
wrap  the  dead  in  linen  bands  and  aromatic  herbs. 
Over  all  these  winding  bands  they  folded  a  heavy 
winding  sheet  covering  the  dead  from  head  to  foot. 

The  Jews  who  witnessed  this  wonderful  miracle, 
knew  that  no  man  could  live  four  days  in  a  tomb  thus 
wrapped  and  swathed,  and  they  knew  they  were 
looking  on  a  man  who  had  been  dead,  and  who  was  now 
alive  and  well.  Therefore,  many  of  the  Jews  having 
seen  what  Jesus  did,  believed  in  him. 

But  several  of  these  witnesses  went  to  the  Pharisees 
and  told  them  what  had  happened.  The  Pharisees 
and  High  Priests  assembled  the  Council  to  consult 
what  they  should  do,  saying:  "What  do  we,  for 
this  man  doth  many  miracles?  If  we  let  him  alone 
all  will  believe  in  him;  and  the  Romans  will  come, 
and  take  away  our  place  and  our  nation." 

One  of  them  named  Caiphas,  who  was  High 
Priest  that  year,  said  to  them:  "You  know 
nothing.     Neither  do  you  consider  that  it  is  better 


236    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

that  one  man  should  die  for  the  people,  so  that  the 
whole  nation  perish  not." 

Louis:  He  was  a  wicked  man,  for  he  knew  that 
Jesus  was  good  and  innocent. 

Grandma:  This  he  knew  very  well,  and  so  did 
they  all;  but  they  feared  that  the  Romans,  hearing 
of  the  power  of  Christ  and  of  his  influence  over  the 
people,  would  grow  jealous.  And  that  they  would 
send  their  soldiers  to  drive  out  the  priests  and  the 
Pharisees,  and  all  those  whom  they  had  appointed 
rulers  over  the  Jewish  people. 

From  that  day  forth  the  Pharisees  and  Doctors 
of  the  Law  sought  to  put  Jesus  to  death. 

Jesus,  knowing  their  intention,  apf)eared  no 
more  among  the  Jews  publicly;  but  he  withdrew 
to  a  small  town,  near  the  desert,  called  Ephrem 
with  his  disciples. 

Elizabeth:  Grandma,  as  our  Lord  knew  he  was 
to  die,  why  did  he  withdraw  to  Ephrem? 

Grandma:  Because  the  hour  of  his  death,  pre- 
dicted by  the  Prophets,  had  not  yet  come.  His  work 
on  this  earth  was  not  finished.  In  the  retirement 
of  Ephrem  he  taught  his  disciples  many  things  con- 
cerning the  redemption  of  the  world. 


TPIE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    237 


CHAPTER  LXXVI. 

JESUS    FORETELI^S    HIS    DEATH    AND    RESURRECTION. 

Grandma:  As  Jesus  set  out  on  the  road  leading 
to  Jerusalem,  his  disciples,  filled  with  dismay,  followed 
him  with  great  fear. 

Jane:  Why  were  they  surprised  and  why  were 
they  afraid  ? 

Grandma:  They  were  amazed  to  see  Jesus  going 
so  fearlessly  to  Jerusalem,  where  he  had  predicted 
that  suffering  and  death  awaited  him. 

And  yet  they  followed  him,  because  they  loved 
him,  and  were  unwilling  to  leave  him,  but  full  of 
fear  lest  they  also  should  be  ill-treated  and  suffer 
death  with  him. 

But  Jesus,  reading  their  thoughts,  took  the  twelve 
Apostles  apart,  and  told  them  again  that  what  the 
Prophets  had  foretold  concerning  him  would  be 
fulfilled  in  Jerusalem.  That  he  would  be  delivered 
to  the  High  Priest  and  to  the  Scribes,  and  that  they 
would  condenm  him  to  death;  that  he  would  be 
mocked,  spat  upon,  scourged,  and  finally  put  to 
death;  but  that  on  the  third  day  he  would  rise  again 
from  the  dead.     The  disciples  did  not  understand  all 


238    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

that  he  told  them,  their  minds  were  not  yet  open. 
Yet  of  all  the  prophecies  foretelling  the  sufferings 
and  death  of  Christ,  this  one  is  the  clearest  and  the 
most  exact. 

As  they  neared  the  city  of  Jericho,  our  Lord  cured 
a  man  bom  blind,  who  sat  by  the  wayside  and  cried 
out:     "Jesus,  Son  of  David,  have  mercy  on  me!" 

Jesus  restored  his  sight  and  the  blind  man,  now 
seeing  clearly,  followed  the  Savior,  in  a  loud  voice 
giving  glory  and  thanks  to  God. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    239 


CHAPTER  LXXVII. 

ZACHEUS  RECEIVES  JESUS  IN  HIS  HOUSE. 

Grandma:  Jesus,  entering  Jericho,  crossed  the 
city.  Here  there  dwelt  a  man  named  Zacheus,  who 
earnestly  desired  to  see  and  to  know  Jesus  Christ. 
Zacheus  was  a  rich  man  and  head  of  the  tax-collectors. 
Being  very  small  and  short,  the  crowd  prevented  him 
from  seeing  Jesus  or  drawing  near  to  him.  In  his 
eagerness,  running  on  ahead,  he  climbed  into  a 
sycamore  tree,  which  grew  on  the  roadside  where 
Jesus  was  passing.  As  Christ  reached  the  spot  he 
raised  his  eyes  and,  calling  Zacheus  by  name,  he  said : 
"Zacheus,  make  haste  and  come  down;  for  to-day  I 
must  lodge  in  thy  house." 

Zacheus  hastened  to  obey,  and  conducted  our 
Lord  to  his  home  and  received  him  with  much  joy. 

The  Jews  seeing  this,  murmured  among  them- 
selves, saying:  "He  is  going  to  lodge  in  the  house  of 
a  sinner." 

But  Zacheus,  full  of  deep  humility,  standing 
respectfully  before  our  Lord,  said  to  him  before  all 
the  people:  "Lord,  behold,  now  I  give  the  half  of 
my  goods  to  the  poor;  and  if  I  have  wronged  any 
man  of  anything,  I  restore  it  to  him  fourfold." 


240    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

And  Jesus  answered;  "This  day  is  salvation  come 
to  this  house,  for  the  Son  of  Man  is  come  to  seek  and 
to  save  that  which  was  lost." 

Jane:  I  don't  understand,  Grandma,  why  does 
our  Lord  say  he  came  "to  seek  what  was  lost?" 
And  why  does  Zacheus  wish  to  give  up  all  he  has  and 
return  more  than  he  has  taken  ? 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  here  speaks  of  the  soul 
which  can  easily  be  lost  through  sin  and  love  of  riches ; 
and  these  souls  he  came  to  save.  Zacheus  wished 
to  give  a  portion  of  his  wealth  to  make  reparation  for 
the  deeds  of  injustice  he  had  committed  in  com- 
pelling the  payments  of  sums  larger  than  were  due. 
No  doubt,  you  recall  that  the  publicans  collected 
the  taxes  due  by  the  people  to  the  State,  and  often 
they  enforced  payments  that  were  unjust. 

To  atone,  to  do  penance,  for  this  injustice,  Zacheus 
promises  to  return  four  times  as  much  as  he  has 
unjustly  received.  This  good  resolution,  which 
proved  his  sincere  repentance,  deserved  for  Zacheus 
our  Lord's  blessed  assurance  that  his  visit  had 
brought  to  this  house  salvation  and  peace. 

Jesus  added  the  following  parable  before  leaving 
the  house  of  Zacheus. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE   OF  CHRIST    241 


CHAPTER  LXXVIII. 

PARABLE  OF  THE  TEN  TALENTS. 

Grandma:  "A  certain  nobleman  went  into  a  far 
country  to  receive  for  himself  a  kingdom,  and  to 
return.  And  calling  his  ten  servants,  he  gave  them 
ten  pounds,  and  said  to  them:     Trade  till  I  come." 

Paul:  That  does  not  seem  much  money  for  a 
king  to  give. 

Grandma:  In  those  days  one  pound,  or  talent, 
represented  a  large  sum.  Moreover,  this  king  owed 
his  servants  nothing;  he  gave  them  this  sum  to  test 
their  faithfulness  and  ability  to  use  it  to  the  best 
advantage. 

"But  his  citizens  hated  him;  and  they  sent  an 
embassy  after  him  saying:  We  will  not  have  this 
man  to  reign  over  us. 

"And  it  came  to  pass  that  he  returned,  having 
received  the  kingdom;  and  he  commanded  his 
servants  to  be  called,  to  whom  he  had  given  the 
money,  that  he  might  know  how  much  every  man 
had  gained  by  trading. 

"And  the  first  came,  saying:  Lord,  thy  pound 
hath    gained    ten    pounds. 

"And  he  said  to  him:     Well  done,  thou  2rood  and 


242    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

faithful  servant,  because  thou  hast  been  faithful 
in  a  little,  thou  shalt  have  power  over  ten  cities. 

"And  the  second  came,  saying:  Lord,  thy  pound 
gained  five  pounds. 

"And  he  said  to  him:  Be  thou  also  over  five 
cities. 

"And  another  came,  saying:  Lord,  behold  here 
is  thy  pound,  which  I  have  kept  laid  up  in  a  napkin ; 
for  I  feared  thee,  because  thou  art  an  austere  man; 
thou  takest  up  what  thou  didst  not  lay  down,  and 
thou  reapest  that  which  thou  didst  not  sow. 

"He  saith  to  him:  Out  of  thy  own  mouth  I 
judge  thee,  thou  wicked  servant.  Thou  knewest 
that  I  was  an  austere  man,  taking  up  what  I  laid  not 
down,  and  reaping  that  which  I  did  not  sow;  and 
why,  then,  didst  thou  not  give  my  money  into  the 
bank,  that  at  my  coming  I  might  have  exacted  it 
with  interest?  And  he  said  to  them  that  stood  by: 
Take  the  pound  away  from  him  and  give  it  to  him 
that  hath  ten  pounds.  And  they  said  to  him: 
Lord,  he  hath  ten  pounds.  But  I  say  to  you,  that 
to  every  one  that  hath  shall  be  given,  and  he  shall 
abound;  and  from  him  that  hath  not,  even  that 
which  he  hath,  shall  be  taken  from  him.  But  as 
for  those  my  enemies,  who  would  not  have  me  reign 
over  them,  bring  them  hither  and  kill  them  before 
me." 

Valentine:  But  what  does  this  parable  mean, 
Grandma?     I  can't  imagine. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    243 

Grandma:  The  king  here  spoken  of  is  the  good 
God.  The  servants  represent  his  creatures,  mankind. 
The  talents,  or  pounds,  represent  the  various  gifts 
which  God  distributed  among  men;  such  as,  intelh- 
gence,  cleverness,  strength,  courage,  goodness, 
patience,  kindliness,  charity,  and  other  qualities 
of  mind  and  heart,  of  which  there  is  an  infinite 
variety. 

The  enemies  of  the  king,  who  did  not  wish  him 
to  reign  over  them,  are  the  Jews,  who  refused  to 
recognize  our  Lord  as  their  king. 

The  good  servants,  who  turned  to  good  account 
the  money  which  their  Master  had  confided  to  their 
care,  are  the  wise  and  good,  who  earn  for  themselves 
great  merit  by  the  good  use  they  make  of  the  gifts 
of  God. 

The  cities,  which  the  king  gives  to  his  good 
servants  represent  the  rewards  that  God  will  bestow 
npon  us  according  to  the  work  we  have  done  for 
him,  or  the  good  we  have  accomplished,  and  the 
virtues  we  have  acquired. 

The  wicked  servant,  who  wraps  his  talent  in  a 
napkin,  instead  of  striving  to  increase  its  value, 
represents  those  men  who  lose  God's  graces  and  his 
good  gifts  by  allowing  them  to  remain  idle  in  their 
souls. 

The  bad  citizens,  in  open  revolt  against  the  king 
whom  they  will  not  have  to  rule  over  them,  are  the 
Jews  and  all  bad  Christians  who  deny  God  and  will 


244    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

not  repent  and  turn  from  evil  to  the  good  God. 
The  graces  and  gifts  which  they  would  not  profit  by 
are  given  to  the  faithful  and  wise  servants,  who  have 
proved  that  they  could  appreciate  and  increase  the 
treasures  'confided  to  their  care  by  their  master, 
the  good  Lord. 

Our  Lord,  having  finished  this  parable,  continued 
to  journey  towards  Jerusalem  and  cured  another 
poor  blind  man  who  followed  him  on  the  way. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    246 


CHAPTER  LXXIX. 

MARY     MAGDALENE     ANOINTS     THE     FEET    OF    JESUS. 

Grandma:  Six  days  before  the  feast  of  the 
Passover  Jesus  stopped  in  Bethany  where  he  had 
raised  Lazarus  from  the  dead  and  where  dwelt  the 
sisters  of  Lazarus,  Martha  and  Mary.  Martha 
served  the  evening  meal  and  Lazarus  sat  at  table 
with  Christ,  together  with  other  invited  guests. 

Mary,  full  of  reverence  and  love  for  the  divine 
guest,  took  an  alabaster  vial  of  exquisite  and 
precious  perfume,  and  breaking  the  vase  poured  its 
contents  over  the  feet  of  Christ.  The  house  was  filled 
with  the  fragrant  odor  of  this  ointment. 

Then  Judas  Iscariot,  one  of  the  twelve  Apostles, 
who  sat  at  table,  said:  "Why  was  not  this  ointment 
sold  for  three  hundred  pence,  and  given  to  the  poor?" 

He  said  this,  not  because  of  charity  for  the  poor, 
but  because  it  was  he  who  carried  the  purse,  who  had 
charge  of  the  expenditures;  and  he  used  this  money 
for  his  own  purposes. 

Jesus  answered:  "Let  her  alone,  why  do  you 
molest  her?  She  hath  wrought  a  good  work  upon 
me.     For  the  poor  you  have  always  with  you;  and 


246    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

whensoever  you  will,  you  may  do  them  good;  but 
me  you  have  not  always.  She  is  come  beforehand 
to  anoint  my  body  for  the  burial.  Amen  I  say  to 
you,  wheresoever  this  gospel  shall  be  preached  in 
the  whole  world,  that  also  which  she  hath  done,  shall 
be  told  for  a  memory  of  her." 

The  Jews  having  learnt  of  the  presence  of  Jesus  in 
Bethany,  came  in  crowds  to  the  house,  not  that  they 
might  see  Jesus  only,  but  Lazarus  also,  whom  he  had 
raised  from  the  dead. 

And  because  of  this  miracle  many  Jews  believed 
in  Christ.  Therefore  the  chief  priests  sought  means 
to  put  Lazarus  to  death,  fearing  his  influence  over 
the  people. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    247 


BOOK   FIFTH 

Last  Days  in,  the  Ministry  of  Jesus 
CHAPTER  LXXX. 

THE   TRIUMPHAL   ENTRY    OF   JESUS   INTO   JERUSALEM. 

Grandma:  The  next  day  our  Lord  continued  his 
journey  to  Jerusalem.  As  he  neared  the  village 
of  Bethphage,  he  called  to  him  two  of  his  disciples 
and  said  to  them :  '  'Go  into  yonder  village  lying  before 
us;  upon  your  entrance  you  shall  find  an  ass  tied, 
and  a  colt  with  her,  on  which  no  man  has  ever  yet 
mounted.  Loose  them  and  bring  them  to  me. 
And  if  any  one  say  to  you:  What  are  you  doing? 
say:  The  Lord  has  need  of  them,  and  straightway 
he  will  let  them  go." 

The  disciples  went  before  him  to  Bethphage  and 
found  the  ass  as  Christ  had  told  them,  and  when  they 
untied  her,  those  who  stood  by  said:  "What  are 
you  doing?" 

They  replied  as  Jesus  had  bidden  them,  and  were 
allowed  to  take  the  ass  and  the  young  colt ;  and  they 
led  them  to  Jesus,  who  was  waiting  with  the  other 
disciples. 

They  spread  their  garments  upon  the  back  of  the 
ass  that  Jesus  might  mount,  and  some  of  the  people 
threw  their  mantles  on  the  ground  to  make  a  path 
for  the  ass  which  carried  the  Savior;  others,  standing 


248    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

by,  cut  branches  from  the  trees  and  strewed  the 
ground  with  these  green  boughs. 

And  the  disciples  and  the  crowd  who  had  gathered 
around  shouted  for  joy,  crying:  "Hosanna,  blessed 
is  he  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord.  Ho- 
sanna to  the  Son  of  David.  Hosanna  in  the  highest. " 
Then  the  Pharisees  who  stood  by  said  to  our  Lord; 
"Silence  thy  disciples."  But  Jesus  answered:  "If 
these  shall  hold  their  peace,  the  stones  shall  cry  out,'' 

Little  Louis:     Grandma,  how  can  stones  ory  out? 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  meant  that  the  joy  and 
enthusiasm  of  the  people  was  so  great  that  it  would 
be  impossible  to  silence  them,  and  that  nothing 
could  prevent  their  joyful  song  of  "Hosanna;" 
which  means,  "Glory  to  God,"  Whom  they  were 
praising  because  of  the  coming  of  Christ. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  UFE  OF  CHRIST    249 


CHAPTER  LXXXI. 

JESUS  WEEPS  OVER  JERUSALEM. 

Grandma:  As  our  Lord  drew  near  to  Jerusalem 
from  the  heights  of  Mount  Olivet,  He  looked  upon 
the  city  spread  out  before  Him  and  He  wept,  saying: 
"If  thou  hadst  known,  in  this  thy  day,  the  things 
that  are  to  thy  peace ;  but  now  they  are  hidden  from 
thy  eyes.  For  the  days  shall  come  upon  thee;  and 
thy  enemies  shall  cast  a  trench  about  thee,  and 
compass  thee,  and  straiten  thee  on  every  side,  and 
beat  thee  flat  to  the  ground,  and  the  children  who 
are  in  thee;  and  they  shall  not  leave  in  thee  a  stone 
upon  a  stone ;  because  thou  hast  not  known  the  time 
of  thy  visitation. " 

Elizabeth:  Grandma,  there  are  many  things  in 
these  words  of  our  Lord  which  I  don't  understand. 
Why  does  our  Lord  weep  and  grieve  over  the  mis- 
fortunes of  Jerusalem — when  the  Jews  were  so 
wicked  towards  Him?  And  who  are  these  enemies 
of  Jerusalem — and  what  means  Jerusalem  did  not 
know  "the  time  of  her  visitation?"   Who  visited  her? 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  is  grieved  at  the  thought 
of  the  sorrows  which  he  foresees  will  come  upon 


250    THE  CHILDREN'S  UFE  OF  CHRIST 

Jerusalem,  because,  in  spite  of  the  wickedness  of  the 
Jewish  people,  He  loved  them  as  he  loves  all  men, 
and,  moreover,  they  were  His  chosen  people  and  ho 
longed  that  they  should  know  the  truth  and  merit 
eternal  life.  The  enemies  to  which  Christ  refers  are 
the  Romans,  a  people  who,  forty  years  after  the 
death  of  our  Lord,  overthrew  Jerusalem,  leaving  not 
a  stone  upon  a  stone,  as  was  predicted  by  our  Lord. 

This  was  the  punishment  of  the  Jewish  people  for 
their  wilful  blindness.  They  had  witnessed  the 
miracles  of  Christ,  and  they  should  have  understood 
that  these  miracles  proved  Him  to  be  the  Messias 
long  expected  by  their  nation.  But  the  Jews  feared 
that  by  the  coming  of  Christ  they  might  lose  their 
power  and  might  be  compelled  to  obey  instead  of  to 
command,  that  they  would  be  condemned  for  their 
many  faults;  and,  therefore,  they  made  every  effort 
to  put  to  death  the  Messias,  the  Savior  of  the  world. 

In  this  effort  they  succeeded  and  then  they  sought 
to  conceal  His  resurrection,  as  you  will  see  later  on. 
But,  in  spite  of  them,  the  glorious  resurrection  of 
Christ  was  made  known  and  proved  Christ  Jesus  to 
be  the  Son  of  God. 

Therefore,  does  our  Lord  justly  say  that  they 
refused  to  know  the  time  of  the  visitation  of  their 
Redeemer,  whose  coming  had  long  been  looked  for 
by  the  Jewish  nation. 

Our  Lord  spoke  at  length  to  the  people.  He  told 
them  He  would  not  ask  His  Father  to  deliver  Him 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    251 

from  the  death  which  awaited  Him,  because  for 
this  purpose  He  had  come  into  this  world,  and  that 
by  His  death  the  devil  would  lose  his  power. 

And  Jesus  added:  "If  I  be  lifted  up  from  the 
earth,  I  will  draw  all  things  to  Myself." 

In  these  words  He  spoke  of  the  cross  to  which  He 
would  be  nailed,  and  which  would  be  lifted  up  on 
Mount  Calvary.  He  foretold  that  by  His  death 
many  would  be  drawn  to  Him,  and  through  Him  they 
would  be  saved. 

And  some  in  the  crowd  listening  to  Him  asked: 
"Who  is  this?" 

And  His  friends  answered  with  joy:  "This  is 
Jesus  the  prophet,  from  Nazareth  of  Galilee." 

Little  Louis:     Was  our  Lord  really  a  prophet? 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  was  more  than  a  prophet. 
He  was  the  Lord  and  King  of  Prophets.  Jesus 
entered  the  Temple  and  cured  the  lame  and  the  blind, 
who  came  to  Him  that  they  might  be  healed.  And 
the  children  cried  out  Hosanna  to  the  Son  of  David." 

Henrietta:     What  does  Hosanna  mean? 

Grandma:  Hosanna  means  glory — "Glory  to  the 
Son  of  David,"  sang  the  little  children,  praising  God. 
The  Pharisees,  hearing  them,  were  indignant  and 
said:  "Hearest  Thou  what  these  say?"  Jesus 
answered:  "Yea,  have  ye  never  read:  Out  of  the 
mouths  of  infants  thou  hast  perfected  praise?" 


252    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

And  Jesus,  leaving  the  people,  went  out  of  the 
city  with  His  twelve  disciples  to  Bethany  where  he 
was   always    welcome. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    253 


CHAPTER  LXXXII. 

JESUS  CONDEMNS  THE   BARREN   FIG   TREE. — THE 
VENDERS  DRIVEN  FROM  THE  TEMPLE. 

Grandma:  After  resting  with  His  friends  in 
Bethany,  our  Lord  set  out  early  the  next  day  with 
His  disciples  for  Jerusalem.  As  He  journeyed  on 
the  road,  He  grew  hungry,  for  you  know  our  Lord, 
being  man  as  well  as  God,  was  subject  to  all  the 
needs  of  human  nature. 

It  was  not  the  season  for  figs,  but  seeing  at  a  dis- 
tance a  fig  tree  in  full  leaf,  He  drew  near  and,  push- 
ing aside  the  leaves,  He  looked  for  the  fruit,  but  in 
vain.  He  found  only  leaves;  and  addressing  the 
fig  tree  He  said:  "May  no  fruit  grow  on  thee  any 
more   forever. ' ' 

Jack:  But,  Grandma,  it  doesn't  seem  to  me  it 
was  the  fault  of  the  tree,  as  it  was  not  the  season 
for  figs. 

Grandma:  The  fig  tree  bears  its  leaves  and  its 
fruit  at  the  same  time.  Therefore,  as  the  tree  was 
in  full  leaf,  the  passers  by  could  expect  to  find  fruit 
among  the  leaves.  This  tree  presented,  then,  a 
false  appearance  and  deceived  the  wayfarers.  In 
condemning  the  fig  tree,  our  Lord  wished  to  give  us, 
and  those  who  heard  Him,  a  lesson  on  the  wickedness 


254    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

of  hypocrisy,  which  leads  men  to  appear  better  than 
they  are ;  to  appear  to  possess  virtues  which  in  real- 
ity  they   have   not. 

When  He  reached  Jerusalem,  our  Lord  entered 
the  Temple.  Here  He  found  men  selling  sheep, 
lambs,  and  doves,  and  money  changers  changing 
silver  and  gold. 

Full  of  holy  indignation  at  this  profanation  of 
God's  Temple,  Christ  drove  out  the  buyers  and 
sellers  and  overturned  the  tables  of  the  money 
changers,  saying:  "My  house  shall  be  called  the 
house  of  prayer;  but  you  have  made  it  a  den  of 
thieves."  Thus  He  taught  respect  for  His  Father's 
house. 

The  sun  having  set,  Jesus  left  the  city. 


THE  CHILDREN'vS  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    255 


CHAPTER  LXXXIII. 

CHRIST  ANSWERS  THE  PHARISEES. 

Grandma:  The  next  day  our  IvOrd  returned  to 
Jerusalem.  When  again  passing  the  fig  tree,  which 
He  had  condemned  because  it  bore  no  fruit,  the 
disciples  saw  that  it  was  withered  and  dead.  Our 
Lord  again  entered  the  Temple.  The  priests  and 
Doctors  of  the  Law  drew  near  and  said  to  Him: 
"Tell  us  by  what  authority  Thou  dost  these  things? 
and  who  hath  given  Thee  this  authority?" 

Jesus  answering,  said  to  them:  "I  also  will  ask 
you  one  word,  which  if  you  shall  tell  Me,  I  will  also 
tell  you  by  what  authority  I  do  these  things.  Was 
John  the  Baptist  a  prophet  sent  from  God  or  not?" 

And  they  consulted  among  themselves  what  they 
should  answer,  and  they  argued:  "If  we  say  he  was 
from  heaven,  He  will  say:  Why,  then,  did  you  not 
believe  him?  If  we  say  from  men,  the  whole  people 
will  stone  us;  for  they  are  persuaded  John  was  a 
prophet." 

Therefore  they  answered  Jesus:     "We  know  not." 

And  Jesus  said  to  them:  "Neither  do  I  tell  you 
by  what  authority  I  do  these  things." 

Louis:  Why  would  not  our  Lord  tell  them?  He 
had  so  well  answered  them  before. 


256    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF   CHRIST 

Grandma:  Because  our  Lord  knew  that  His 
reply  would  do  no  good.  They  did  not  question  Him 
to  know  the  truth,  but  in  the  hope  that  He  would 
say  something  in  which  they  could  find  some  fault. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    257 


CHAPTER  LXXXIV. 

PARABLE  OF  THE  VINEYARD   AND   THE   HUSBANDMEN. 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  spoke  this  parable  to  the 
people:  "But  what  think  you?  A  certain  man 
had  two  sons ;  and  coming  to  the  first,  he  said :  Son, 
go  work  to-day  in  my  vineyard.  And  he  answering 
said:  I  will  not.  But  afterwards,  being  moved 
with  repentance,  he  went.  And  coming  to  the  other, 
he  said  in  like  manner.  And  he  answering  said: 
I  go,  Sir;  and  he  went  not.  Which  of  the  two  did 
the  father's  will?     They  say  to  Him:     The  first." 

And  our  Lord  added  that  the  sinners  and  the 
publicans,  whom  the  Jews  despised,  would  go  into 
the  kingdom  of  God  before  them;  for  these  had  be- 
lieved in  John  the  Baptist  and  turned  from  sin, 
whereas  the  preaching  of  John  had  left  the  Jews 
unmoved. 

Jesus  continued  teaching  in  parables.  "A  certain 
man  planted  a  vineyard,  and  let  it  out  to  husband- 
men; and  he  went  abroad  for  a  long  time.  And  at 
the  season,  he  sent  a  servant  to  the  husbandmen  that 
they  should  give  him  of  the  fruit  of  the  vineyard. 
Who,  beating  him,  sent  him  away  empty.     And  again 


258    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

he  sent  another  servant.  But  they  beat  him  also 
and  treating  him  reproachfully,  sent  him  away 
empty.  And  again  he  sent  a  third ;  and  they  wounded 
him  also,  and  cast  him  out. 

"And  the  Lord  of  the  vineyard  said:  What  shall 
I  do?  I  will  send  my  beloved  son;  it  may  be,  when 
they  see  him,  they  will  reverence  him.  Whom 
when  the  husbandmen  saw,  they  thought  within 
themselves,  saying:  This  is  the  heir,  let  us  kill  him, 
that  the  inheritance  may  be  ours. 

"So  casting  him  out  of  the  vineyard,  they  killed 
him.  What,  therefore,  will  the  lord  of  the  vine- 
yard do  to  them  ? 

"He  will  come,  and  he  will  destroy  those  husband- 
men and  he  will  give  the  vineyard  to  others." 

Which  the  Jews  hearing  they  said  to  our  Lord: 
"God  forbid!" 

Henry:  Who  are  these  husbandmen.  Grandma; 
and  why  do  the  Jews  say :     ' ' God  forbid  ? ' ' 

Grandma:  The  Master  of  the  Vineyard  is  the 
Good  God.  The  Vineyard  is  the  Church,  which  bears 
the  fruits  of  faith,  hope,  and  charity.  The  Hus- 
bandmen are  the  Jewish  people,  to  whose  care  God 
had  confided  the  truths  of  faith  which  they  were  to 
spread  over  the  whole  world.  The  Servants  sent 
to  the  husbandmen  are  the  prophets,  whom  the  Jews 
drove  from  their  midst,  persecuted,  and  finally 
killed.  The  Son  of  the  King  is,  of  course,  our  Lord 
whom  the  Jews  likewise  cast  out  of  their  synagogues 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    259 

and  put  to  death.  The  husbandmen  who  received 
the  vineyard  which  had  been  confided  to  such 
unworthy  laborers   are   the   Gentiles. 

Louis :     Who  are  the  Gentiles ? 

Grandma:  The  word  Gentile  means  the  people 
outside  of  the  Jewish  nation.  The  gift  of  faith  was 
given  to  them.  They  know  and  love  Christ  our  Lord, 
whom  the  Jews  dispised. 

When  our  Lord  had  concluded  this  parable,  the 
Jews  cried  out:  "God  forbid!"  because  they  fully 
understood  its  meaning,  and  they  feared  the  pun- 
ishment our  Lord  foretold  would  befall  their  nation^ 
if  they  presisted  in  rejecting  the  Messias  who  stood 
in  their  midst.  , 

The  priests  and  princes  understood  that  these 
words  of  our  Lord  were  addressed  to  them  as  a 
warning,  for  they  were  the  teachers  of  the  people. 

Therefore,  they  sought  to  lay  hold  of  Jesus,  but 
they  dared  not,  for  fear  of  the  people  who  honored 
Him. 


260    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  LXXXV. 

PARABLE  OF  THE  WEDDING  FEAST. 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  spoke  to  them  the  following 
parable:  "The  Kingdom  of  Heaven  is  likened  to  a 
king,  who  made  a  marriage  for  his  son.  And  he 
sent  his  servants,  to  call  them  that  were  invited  to 
the  marriage;  and  they  would  not  come.  Again  he 
sent  other  servants,  saying:  Tell  them  that  were 
invited,  Behold,  I  have  prepared  my  dinner;  my 
beeves  and  fatlings  are  killed,  and  all  things  are  ready; 
come  ye  to  the  marriage. 

"But  they  neglected,  and  went  their  ways,  one 
to  his  farm,  and  another  to  his  merchandise.  And 
the  rest  laid  hands  on  his  servants  and,  having 
treated  them  contumeliously,  put  them  to  death. 

"But  when  the  king  had  heard  of  it,  he  was  angry, 
and,  sending  his  armies,  he  destroyed  those  murderers, 
and  burnt  their  city.  Then  saith  he  to  his  servants; 
The  marriage  indeed  is  ready;  but  they  that  were 
invited  were  not  worthy.  Go  ye  therefore  into  the 
highways;  and  as  many  as  you  shall  find,  call  to  the 
marriage. 

"And  his  servants,  going  forth  into  the  ways, 
gathered  together  all  that  they  found,  both  bad  and 


THE  CHILDREN'S  UFE  OF  CHRIST    261 

good;  and  the  marriage  was  filled  with  guests.  And 
the  king  went  in  to  see  the  guests;  and  he  saw  there 
a  man  who  had  not  on  a  wedding  garment.  And  he 
saith  to  him:  Friend,  how  camest  thou  in  hither 
not  having  on  a  wedding  garment?  But  he  was 
silent.  Then  the  king  said  to  the  waiters.  Bind 
his  hands  and  his  feet,  and  cast  him  into  the  exterior 
darkness;  there  shall  be  weeping  and  gnashing  of 
teeth.     For  many  are  called,  but  few  are  chosen." 

Louis:  I  don't  understand  this  parable.  What 
does  this  marriage  feast  mean?     What  king  is  it? 

Grandma:  In  the  parables  of  our  Lord,  the 
king  always  represents  God.  The  wedding  of  the 
king's  son  represents  the  union  of  the  Son  of  God, 
Christ  Jesus,  with  our  human  nature,  which  He 
wedded  in  becoming  man. 

The  first  guests  invited  are  the  Jews,  who  were  the 
first  invited  to  the  Feast  of  the  Holy  Eucharist.  This 
great  Feast  of  the  Eucharist,  in  which  our  Lord 
Himself  is  our  food,  was  instituted  by  Jesus  at  the 
last  supper.  The  last  supper  of  our  Lord  with  His 
disciples  was  to  take  place  in  a  few  days,  and  I 
shall  tell  you  shortly  how,  on  this  occasion.  He 
showed  His  love  for  man. 

The  servants  sent  by  the  king  are  the  Apostles, 
the  Disciples,  the  Priests,  tho.  Missionaries,  whom  the 
world  ill-treated  and  finally  put  to  death. 

The  armies  represent  wars,  famines,  plagues ^ 
which  are  sent  by  God  to  chastise  those  who  repulse 


k 


262    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

His  servants  and  will  not  hear  them.  The  man  who 
is  found  at  table  without  a  wedding  garment  is  the 
picture  of  those  who  dare  to  approach  the  table  of 
Eucharist  and  receive  Holy  Communion  without 
having  purified  their  soul  by  true  contrition  and  sin- 
cere confession. 

The  command  of  the  king,  that  the  man  without 
the  wedding  garment  be  bound  hands  and  feet  and 
cast  into  exterior  darkness,  is  a  sad  but  true  repre- 
sentation of  the  judgement  of  God  towards  rebellious 
sinners  who  die  with  the  stain  of  grievous  sin  upon 
their  souls,  and  are  therefore  condemned  to  the 
pains  of  hell. 


I 


THE  CHILDREN'S   LIFE   OF  CHRIST    263 


CHAPTER  LXXXVI. 

THE  TRIBUTE  TO  CAESAR. 

Grandma:  The  Pharisees  withdrew  to  consult 
among  themselves  how  they  could  best  find  some 
cause  for  taking  our  Lord  prisoner. 

They  planned  to  put  to  our  Lord  some  question 
concerning  the  Roman  laws,  and  they  hoped  that  in 
His  reply  He  would  speak  against  their  Emperor, 
Caesar;  and  they  would  thus  find  a  cause  against  Him. 
Therefore,  they  sent  to  Christ  two  spies  to  question 
Him  concerning  the  tribute  money  which  they  paid 
to  the  Romans. 

As  if  they  were  earnestly  seeking  to  know  the 
truth,  these  men  came  to  Jesus,  saying:  "Master, 
we  know  that  Thou  speakest  and  teachest  rightly; 
and  Thou  dost  not  respect  any  person,  but  teachest 
the  way  of  God  in  truth.  Is  it  lawful  for  us  to  give 
tribute  to  Caesar  or  not?" 

But  Jesus,  knowing  their  wicked  cunning,  an- 
swered: "Why  do  you  tempt  Me,  ye  hypocrites? 
Bring  me  a  penny  that  I  may  see  it.  And  they 
brought  it  to  Him  and  Jesus  saith  to  them :  Whose 
image  and  inscription  is  this?     The''^  ^ay  to  him, 


264    THE   CHILDREN'S  LIFE   OF  CHRIST 

Caesar's.  And  Jesus  answering,  said  to  them; 
Render,  therefore,  to  Caesar  the  things  that  are 
Caesar's,  and  to  God  the  things  that  are  God's." 

Elizabeth:  How  beautifully  our  Lord  replies  to 
these  Jews  who  try  to  harm  Him! 

Henry:  They  could  not  answer  anything  to  that. 
They  must  have  been  angry  at  being  caught  them- 
selves. 

Grandma:  The  Gospel  tells  us  that,  having  heard 
this  reply  of  our  Lord,  they  were  amazed,  and  went 
away  wondering  at  His  wisdom. 

Henry :    Were  they  converted ? 

Grandma:  The  Gospel  does  not  say  so.  It  is 
more  probable  that  these  men  remained  full  of  pride 
and  envy,  for  it  is  impossible  for  men  to  repent  when 
their  hearts  are  full  of  hatred  of  their  neighbor. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    265 


CHAPTER  LXXXVII. 

THE  LOVE  OF  GOD  AND  OF  OUR  NEIGHBOR. 

Grandma:  The  Pharisees  were  very  angry  when 
they  learnt  that  Christ  had  silenced  their  messengers 
by  His  reply  full  of  divine  wisdom. 

And  one  of  the  Doctors  of  the  Law,  hoping  to 
succeed  in  confusing  our  Lord,  drew  near  and  asked 
Him  which  was  the  greatest  of  all  the  commandments. 
And  Jesus  answered :  "Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy 
God  with  thy  whole  heart,  and  with  thy  whole  soul, 
and  with  thy  whole  mind.  This  is  the  greatest  and 
the  first  commandment.  And  the  second  is  like 
to  this:  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself. 
There  is  no  other  commandment  greater  than  these. 

Henry:  But  Grandma,  there  are  ten  command- 
ments, and  our  Lord  says  there  are  two! 

Grandma :  Yes,  God  gave  to  Moses  ten  Command- 
ments, which  you  have  studied  in  your  catechism. 
These  two  which  Christ  gives  contain  all  the  others: 
for  He  added:  "On  these  two  commandments 
dependeth  the  whole  law. ' ' 

If  you  keep  this  first  commandment,  of  loving 
God,  you  honor  Him,  you  adore  Him,  you  obey  Him. 
And  if  you  love  your  neighbor  as  yourself,  as  this 


266    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

second  commandment  teaches,  you  are  naturally 
kind,  patient,  charitable,  and  generous  towards 
others.  This  love  of  God  and  of  our  neighbor  for 
His  sake,  will  make  us  as  perfect  as  we  can  be  in 
this  world. 

Camille:  Grandma,  how  can  we  love  everybody? 
How  can  I  love  those  who  hurt  me  as  I  love  you? 
How  can  we  love  people  who  are  cross  and  ill-tem- 
pered as  we  love  those  who  are  aimable  and  loving? 

Grandma:  Dear  child,  the  good  God  does  not 
compel  us  to  love  every  one  with  the  same  affection. 
To  love  all  men  means  to  feel  kindly  towards  every- 
body, to  bear  ill-will  to  no  one,  to  be  kind  and 
charitable  to  all,  to  make  allowances  for  the  faults 
of  others,  to  bear  with  them  and  pray  for  them. 
This  is  the  love  we  must  bear  towards  all — this  is 
the  law  of  love  which  Christ  taught  us. 

Elizabeth:  But,  Grandma,  if  some  one  is  unkind 
to  me,  and  does  me  harm,  I  can't  feel  as  kindly 
towards  that  person  as  if  she  were  my  friend. 

Grandma:  This  is  precisely  where  our  merit  lies. 
Our  Lord  demands  of  us  this  effort,  not  always  easy, 
I  admit,  but  which  will  win  for  us  a  great  reward. 

It  is  a  pleasure  to  be  kind  to  those  we  love  and  to 
those  who  love  us;  but  to  be  kind  towards  our 
enemies,  and  to  those  who  are  cold  and  distant 
towards  us,  requires  a  great  and  generous  effort. 
Our  Lord  asks  this  of  all  His  followers,  and  He 
Himself  gave  us  the  example  during  all   His  life 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    267 

and  especially  in  His  sufferings  and  death,  of  which 
I  shall  presently  tell  you. 

The  Scribe  who  had  questioned  Christ  saw  the 
truth  and  beauty  of  this  reply,  and  he  exclaimed: 
"Master,  you  have  well  said;"  and  he  repeated 
thoughtfully  the  words  of  Jesus,  and  spoke  so 
earnestly  that  our  Lord  said  to  him:  "Thou  art 
not  far  from  the  Kingdom  of  God." 

And  no  one  dared  question  Christ  further.  As  the 
Pharisees  had  gathered  around  our  Lord,  He  turned 
and  questioned  them:  "What  think  ye  of  Christ? 
Whose  Son  is  He?" 

"David's,"  they  replied. 

And  our  Lord  asked:  "How  then  doth  David 
call  Him  Lord?  If  David  called  Him  Lord,  how  is 
He  his  son?" 

None  could  reply  to  this,  and  from  that  day  they 
dared  not  question  Him. 

L  ouis :    And  we  don 't  understand  either,  Grandma. 

Grandma:  However,  it  is  very  simple  for  all  of 
you  who  know  your  catechism.  Jesus  Christ  is  the 
Lord  of  David,  because  He  is  true  God,  the  Lord  of 
all  men.  He  is  the  son  of  David,  because  He  is  true 
man,  and  descended  from  David  through  His 
mother,  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary.  It  is  the  mys- 
tery of  the  Incarnation,  God  made  man,  in  which 
the  Jews  would  not  believe. 


268  THK  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  LXXXVIII. 

THE  widow's  mite. 

Grandma:  One  day  our  Lord  was  sitting  on  the 
porch  of  the  Temple,  near  the  money  box,  placed 
there  to  receive  the  offerings  of  the  people  as  they 
came  in  and  out  of  the  Temple. 

As  He  watched  the  people  giving  their  alms,  a 
pool  widow  drew  near  and  dropped  in  the  box  two 
small  pieces  of  money  worth  less  than  one  cent. 
Turning  to  His  disciples  our  Lord  said:  "In  truth, 
this  poor  widow  has  given  more  than  all  the  others. 
For  all  they  did  cast  in  of  their  abundance;  but  she 
of  her  want  cast  in  all  she  had,  even  her  whole 
living." 

Elizabeth:  It  certainly  must  be  comforting  to 
the  poor  to  know  that  they  too  can  give  alms,  and 
that  if  they  can  give  only  a  little,  it  will  deserve  our 
Lord's  praise. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    269 


CHAPTER  LXXXIX. 

JESUS    PREDICTS   THE   RUIN   OF   JERUSALEM   AND   THE 
LAST  DAY. 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  predicted  the  ruin  of 
Jerusalem  and  that  there  would  not  be  a  stone  left 
upon  a  stone  of  this  city  which  the  Jews  loved.  He 
foretold  the  end  of  the  world,  and  predicted  that 
before  the  last  day  Christians  would  be  persecuted, 
and  war,  famine,  floods,  and  plagues  would  devastate 
the  earth,  and  that  all  these  would  be  signs  of  the 
coming  of  Christ  to  judge  the  world.  He  told  them 
that  on  the  last  day  the  Son  of  God  would  appear 
in  His  majesty,  and  that  the  dead  should  rise  again 
and  stand  before  Him  to  be  judged.  The  good 
would  be  separated  from  the  wicked ;  the  wicked  to  be 
eternally  punished  and  the  good  eternally  rewarded 
according  to  their  deeds. 

Elizabeth:     When  will  this  be,  Grandma? 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  did  not  reveal  when  the 
end  of  the  world  would  come.  This,  He  told  them, 
was  God's  secret,  which  even  the  angels  in  Heaven 
did  not  know,  but  He  warns  us,  as  He  warned  His 
disciples,  "to  watch  and  pray,"  that  we  may  be 
ready  at  any  time  to  appear  before  God,  "for  no 
one  knoweth  the  day  and  the  hour"  that  he  will  be 
called  to  appear  before  his  Judge. 


270  THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XC. 

PARABLE  OP  THE  TEN  VIRGINS. 

Grandma:  "The  Kingdom  of  Heaven,"  said 
Jesus,  "shall  be  like  to  ten  virgins,  who  taking  their 
lamps  went  out  to  meet  the  bridegroom  and  the 
bride.  And  five  of  them  were  foolish,  and  five  wise. 
But  the  five  foolish,  having  taken  their  lamps,  did 
not  take  oil  with  them ;  but  the  wise  took  oil  in  their 
vessels  with  the  lamps.  And  the  bridegroom 
tarrying,  they  all  slumbered  and  slept. 

"And  at  midnight  there  was  a  cry  made:  Behold 
the  bridegroom  cometh,  go  ye  forth  to  meet  him. 
Then  all  those  virgins  arose  and  trimmed  their 
lamps.  And  the  foolish  said  to  the  wise:  Give  us 
of  your  oil,  for  our  lamps  are  gone  out.  The  wise 
answered,  saying:  Lest  perhaps  there  be  not 
enough  for  us  and  for  you,  go  ye  rather  to  them  that 
sell,  and  buy  for  yourselves.  Now,  whilst  they 
went  to  buy,  the  bridegroom  came;  and  they  that 
were  ready  went  in  with  him  to  the  marriage,  and 
the   door  was  shut. 

"But  at  last  come  also  the  other  virgins,  saying: 
Lord,  Lord,  open  to  us.  But  He  answering  said: 
Amen  I  say  to  you,  I  know  you  not. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     271 

"Watch  ye  therefore,  because  you  know  not  the 
day  nor  the  hour. ' ' 

Henry:  Grandma,  will  you  please  explain  this 
parable  ?     I  don't  understand  it. 

Grandma:  Most  willingly.  The  ten  virgins  rep- 
resent Christians;  the  light  of  their  lamps  is  the 
light  of  faith;  the  oil  is  the  love  of  God  and  good 
deeds ;    the  bridegroomis  Christ  Jesus. 

The  virgins  waited  for  the  bridegroom,  as  all 
Christians  await  the  last  judgement ;  the  sleep  of  the 
virgins  represents  death,  and  their  awakening,  the 
final  resurrection,  when  each  one  of  us  will  find  in  our 
lamps  the  oil  poured  in  during  our  lives ;  that  is,  the 
good  deeds  done  while  on  this  earth. 

The  foolish  virgins,  who  went  to  buy  oil  when  they 
heard  the  bridegroom  was  approaching,  represent 
those  who  wait  until  the  last  hour  of  their  lives  to 
do  good  and  turn  from  sin.  They  have  not  the  time 
to  repent,  and  when  these  foolish  Christians  reach 
the  door  of  the  heavenly  kingdom,  they  are  too  late, 
the  door  is  shut.  They  had  not  purified  their  souls 
by  sincere  repentance  and  made  friends  with  God 
during  life,  and  death  found  them  unprepared  for 
His  coming. 

Therefore  they  are  condemned  and  cannot  enter 
the  hall  of  feasting,  which  signifies  Paradise. 

"And,"  continued  our  Lord,  "when  the  Son  of 
Man  shall  come  in  His  majesty,  and  all  His  angels 
with  Him,  then  shall  He  sit  upon  the  seat  of  His 


272   THE  CHILDREN'S  EIFE  OF  CHRIST 

majesty.  And  all  nations  shall  be  gathered  together 
before  Him;  and  He  shall  separate  them  one  from 
another,  as  the  shepherd  separateth  the  sheep  from 
the  goats.  And  He  shall  set  the  sheep  on  His  right 
hand,  but  the  goats  on  the  left. 

"Then  shall  the  King  say  to  them  that  shall  be 
on  His  right  hand:  Come,  ye  blessed  of  My  Father, 
possess  you  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you  from  the 
foundation  of  the  world.  For  I  was  hungry,  and 
you  gave  Me  to  eat;  I  was  thirsty,  and  you  gave  Me 
to  drink;  I  was  a  stranger,  and  you  took  me  in; 
naked,  and  you  covered  me;  sick,  and  you  visited 
Me;  I  was  in  prison,  and  you  came  to  Me. 

"Then  shall  the  just  answer  Him,  saying:  Lord, 
when  did  we  see  Thee  hungry,  and  fed  thee;  thirsty, 
and  gave  Thee  drink?  And  when  did  we  see  Thee 
a  stranger,  and  took  Thee  in?  or  naked,  and  covered 
Thee?  Or  when  did  we  see  Thee  sick  or  in  prison, 
and  came  to  Thee  ? 

"And  the  King  answering  shall  say  to  them: 
Amen,  I  say  to  you,  as  long  as  you  did  it  to  one  of 
these  My  least  brethren,  you  did  it  to  Me. 

"Then  He  shall  say  to  them  also  that  shall  be  on 
His  left  hand:  Depart  from  Me,  you  cursed,  into 
everlasting  fire  which  was  prepared  for  the  devil 
and  his  angels.  For  I  was  hungry,  and  you  gave  Me 
not  to  eat;  I  was  thirsty,  and  you  gave  Me  not  to 
drink;  I  was  a  stranger,  and  you  took  Me  not  in; 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    273 

naked,  and  you  covered  Me  not,  sick  and  in  prison, 
and  you  did  not  visit  Me. 

"Then  they  also  shall  answer  Him,  saying:  Lord, 
when  did  we  see  Thee  hungry,  or  thirsty,  or  a  stranger, 
or  naked,  or  sick,  or  in  prison,  and  did  not  minister 
to  Thee?  Then  He  shall  answer  them,  saying: 
Amen,  I  say  to  you,  as  long  as  you  did  it  not  to  one 
of  these  least,  neither  did  you  it  to  Me.  And  these 
shall  go  into  everlasting  punishment;  but  the  just 
into  life  everlasting." 

Henry:  But,  Grandma,  must  we  love  the  poor 
as  we  do  God  ? 

Grandma :  Our  Lord  teaches  us  that  all  men,  poor 
and  rich,  good  and  bad,  are  our  brothers,  and  that 
for  love  of  Him  who  became  man  we  must  treat  all 
men  as  our  brethren  and  His  brethren;  otherwise 
we  cannot  hope  to  be  happy  with  Him  in  heaven. 

When  you  read  the  lives  of  the  saints  you  will  see 
how  they  saw  in  the  poor  of  this  world  our  Lord 
Himself  and  how,  for  love  of  Him,  they  clothed 
them  and  fed  them  and  ministered  to  their  wants. 

Jesus  spent  these  last  days  of  His  life  teaching 
the  people,  who  assembled  in  large  numbers  to  hear 
Him;  and  at  night  He  would  withdraw  outside  the 
city  to  the  Mount  of  Olives  to  pray. 


274  THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XCI. 

JUDAS  DETERMINES  TO  BETRAY  CHRIST. 

Grandma:  Jesus  being  alone  with  His  disciples 
said  to  them:  "You  know  that  after  two  days  the 
Son  of  Man  shall  be  delivered  up  to  be  crucified." 

While  our  Lord  was  conversing  thus  with  His 
disciples,  the  priests  and  scribes  and  ancients  of  the 
people  had  gathered  together  in  the  hall  of  Caiphas, 
the  High  Priest,  and  were  consulting  among  them- 
selves how  they  might  lay  hold  of  Jesus  and  put  Him 
to  death.  They  decided  that  this  must  not  be  on  the 
festival  day,  lest  there  should  be  a  tumult  among  the 
people,  for  they  knew  many  loved  the  Christ,  who 
had  gone  among  them  doing  good. 

While  they  were  deliberating,  "Satan  entered 
into  Judas,"  one  of  the  twelve  disciples. 

Jac k :     How  could  Satan  enter  into  Judas  ? 

Grandma:  Judas  listened  to  the  Evil  One,  who 
whispered  that  if  he  betrayed  his  Master  he  would 
be  well  paid  by  the  enemies  of  Christ.  This  thought 
pleased  Judas,  who  had  grown  to  love  riches,  and  he 
resolved  to  betray  Jesus  and  sell  Him  to  those  who 
were  seeking  His  death.     From  the  moment  Judas 


THE  CHILDREN'S  UFE  OF  CHRIST    275 

consented  to  this  temptation  he  was  in  the  power  of 
the  devil,  who  had  entered  into  his  heart.  And  he 
went  immediately  to  the  chief  priests  and  princes 
and  offered  to  deliver  Jesus  to  them. 

They  accepted  eagerly,  for  they  did  not  know 
where  Christ  spent  the  night,  and  they  bargained 
with  Judas  and  agreed  to  pay  him  thirty  pieces  of 
silver  when  he  would  have  betrayed  Christ  Jesus 
into  their  hands. 

Jack:  My,  what  a  wicked  man  this  Judas  was! 
And  he  was  one  of  the  twelve  Apostles;  I  wonder 
our  Lord  did  not  drive  him  away  long  ago ! 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  came  upon  this  earth  to  do 
the  will  of  His  Father  and  save  men  by  his  death. 
He  left  Judas  free  as  to  the  use  he  would  choose  to 
make  of  the  wonders  of  love  and  mercy  which  he 
witnessed  in  the  Master's  blessed  company.  Thus 
Christ  obeyed  the  will  of  God  Who  leaves  men  their 
free  will  to  turn  from  evil  and  do  good  in  all  the 
freedom  of  their  own  deliberate  choice.  Moreover,  in 
all  his  dealings  with  Judas,  His  unworthy  disciple, 
Christ  gave  us  the  most  sublime  example  of  perfect 
charity,  patience,  humility,  and  forgiveness  of 
injuries,  which  virtues  He  had  preached  during  His 
whole  life. 

Like  Judas,  unfaithful  Christians  leave  our  Lord 
and  betray  Him.  Nevertheless,  God  is  patient  and 
grants  them  long  years  of  life,  that  they  may  repent. 


276  THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

And  like  Judas  they,  too,  are  inexcusable  if  they 
are  not  moved  to  repentance  and  conversion  from 
their  sins. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    277 


CHAPTER  XCII. 

THE  LAST  SUPPER. 

Grandma :  The  Feast  of  the  Passover  was  drawing 
near,  and  on  the  day  of  the  azymes. 

Louis:     What  is  the  day  of  the  azymes? 

Grandma:  During  the  Feast  of  the  Passover 
the  Jews  ate  only  unleavened  bread,  bread  without 
yeast  called  azymes.  Therefore,  the  first  day  of 
the  feast,  which  lasted  seven  days,  was  called  the 
day  of  the  azymes. 

This  day  being  at  hand,  Jesus  said  to  Peter  and 
to  John:  "Go,  and  prepare  for  us  the  pasch,  that 
we  may  eat.  But  they  said:  Where  wilt  Thou  that 
we  go.  But  he  said  to  them:  Behold,  as  you  go 
into  the  city,  there  shall  meet  you  a  man  carrying 
a  pitcher  of  water;  follow  him  into  the  house  where 
he  entereth  in.  And  you  shall  say  to  the  good  man 
of  the  house :  The  Master  saith  to  thee.  Where  is  the 
guest  chamber,  where  I  may  eat  the  pasch  with  My 
disciples?  And  he  will  show  you  a  large  dining- 
room  furnished ;  and  there  prepare  ye  for  us. " 

The  disciples  did  as  our  Lord  commanded,  and 
found  everything  precisely  as  He  had  told  them; 
and  they  prepared  the  pasch. 


278  THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Mary  Theresa:     What  was  there  to  prepare? 

Grandma:  Many  things:  First  the  lamb  had 
to  be  killed  and  roasted.  Then  the  unleavened 
bread  and  certain  bitter  herbs,  which  it  was  cus- 
tomary to  eat  with  the  lamb,  had  to  be  prepared. 
Then  the  table,  spread  with  all  that  was  needful  for 
the  paschal  supper,  as  this  repast  was  called.  In  the 
evening  our  Lord  went  up  to  Jerusalem. 

Valentine:  Why  do  you  say.  Grandma,  that  Jesus 
"went  up"   to   Jerusalem? 

Grandma:  Because  the  city  of  Jerusalem  was 
built  on  a  height.  After  sunset  our  Lord  sat  down 
at  table  with  His  twelve  disciples,  and  He  said  to 
them:  "With  desire  I  have  desired  to  eat  this 
pasch  with  you,  before  I  suffer.  For  I  say  to  you, 
from  this  time  I  will  not  eat  it,  till  it  be  fulfilled  in 
the    Kingdom   of   God." 

Then,  taking  the  cup  of  wine.  He  gave  thanks  to 
His  Father  and  said  to  His  disciples:  "Take,  and 
divide  it  among  you;  for  I  say  to  you,  I  will  not 
drink  of  the  fruit  of  the  vine,  till  the  Kingdom  of 
God  come." 

And  while  they  were  eating,  our  Lord  spoke  to 
them  thus:  "Amen  I  say  to  you,  that  one  of  you  is 
about  to  betray  Me." 

At  these  words  the  disciples  were  much  grieved 
and  each  one  asked:     "Lord,  is  it  I?" 

And  our  Lord  answering  said:  "He  that  dippeth 
his  hand  with  Me  in  the  dish,  he  shall  betray  Me. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    279 

The  Son  of  Man  indeed  goeth,  as  it  is  written  of 
Him ;  but  woe  to  that  man  by  whom  the  Son  of  Man 
shall  be  betrayed ;  it  were  better  for  him,  if  that  man 
had  not  been  born." 

And  Judas,  who  was  about  to  betray  Him,  asked 
in  a  low  voice.  "Is  it  I,  Master?"  And  Jesus  replied 
that  it  was  indeed  he  who  was  to  betray  Him. 

Jack:  But,  Grandma,  why  did  not  the  other 
disciples  take  hold  of  Judas  and  lock  him  up  to 
prevent  him  from  betraying  their  Lord? 

Grandma:  In  the  first  place,  as  our  Lord  and 
Judas  spoke  these  few  words  in  a  low  tone  of  voice, 
the  other  disciples  probably  did  not  hear.  More- 
over, they  did  not  know  of  what  betrayal  the  Lord 
spoke.  If  they  had  understood  that  He  spoke  of 
His  betrayal  unto  death,  they  would  have  found  it 
impossible  to  believe  that  one  of  their  number  could 
be  guilty  of  such  a  crime. 


280    THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XCIII. 

CHRIST  WASHES  THE  FEET  OF  HIS  DISCIPLES. 

Grandma:  Jesus  knew  that  the  hour  had  come 
when  he  should  suffer  and  die  for  men;  and  longing 
to  prove  His  boundless  love  for  us,  He  instituted 
the   Blessed  Sacrament  of  the   Eucharist. 

Louis:     How  did  our  Lord  institute  this  Sacrament? 

Grandma:  By  changing  the  bread  and  wine  into 
His  body  and  Blood,  and  giving  it  to  his  disciples 
to  eat  and  drink,  as  your  catechism  teaches.  And 
He  gave  to  His  disciples  the  power  to  do  as  He  had 
done,  and  to  continue  this  miracle,  so  that  when  He 
would  have  returned  to  His  Father  in  Heaven,  His 
disciples  could  unite  themselves  to  Him  in  Holy 
Communion. 

This  blessed  privilege  is  ours  also,  when  we  receive 
the  Blessed  Sacrament,  for  Christ  loves  us  as  He  did 
His  beloved  Apostles.  Before  instituting  the  Holy 
Eucharist,  our  Lord  washed  the  feet  of  His  disciples. 

Valentine:  What!  Our  Lord  washed  the  feet 
of  His  disciples — and  why? 

Grandma:  To  give  them  a  lesson  in  humility, 
and   to   teach   us   the   purity   necessary   to   receive 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    281 

worthily  the  Body  and  Blood  of  our  Lord  in  Holy 
Communion.  We  attain  this  purity  of  soul  by  re- 
pentance and  a  sincere  confession  on  our  part.  This, 
added  to  the  absolution  of  the  priest,  forgives  our 
sins  and  cleanses  the  soul  from  all  stains  which  mar 
its  purity. 

As  I  was  about  to  tell  you,  before  He  instituted 
this  great  Sacrament  our  Lord  rose  from  the  table, 
took  a  basin  which  He  filled  with  water,  and  having 
girded  Himself  with  a  towel.  He  washed  the  feet  of 
His  disciples  and  dried  them  with  this  cloth. 

When  our  Lord  knelt  before  Peter  to  wash  his 
feet,  Peter  cried  out:  "Lord,  dost  Thou  wash  my 
feet?  Jesus  answered:  What  I  do  thou  knowest 
not  now;  but  thou  shalt  know  hereafter.  Peter 
saith  to  Him:  Thou  shalt  never  wash  my  feet. 
Jesus  answered  him:  If  I  wash  thee  not,  thou  shalt 
have  no  part  with  Me.  Then  Peter  saith  to  Him : 
Lord,  not  only  my  feet,  but  also  my  hands  and  my 
head.  Jesus  answered :  He  that  is  washed,  needeth 
not  but  to  wash  his  feet,  but  is  clean  wholly.  And 
ye  are  clean,  but  not  all." 

Henrietta:  Why  does  our  Lord  insist  on  washing 
Peter's  feet  when  he  doesn't  wish  it? 

Grandma:  Because,  as  I  told  you,  our  Lord  was 
giving  His  disciples  a  lesson  in  humility,  which  was 
to  be  a  lesson  to  Peter  as  well  as  to  the  other  dis- 
ciples. Moreover,  our  Lord  here  teaches  that  priests 
and  bishops,  and  even  the  Holy  Father,  must  humble 


282   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

themselves  and  confess  their  shis  as  do  all  the  faith- 
ful,  that   they   may  be  forgiven. 

Valentine:  Why  does  our  Lord  say  they  are  not 
all  pure? 

Grandma:  Because  Jesus  knew  that  Judas,  who 
was  about  to  betray  Him,  was  far  from  being  clean 
of  heart. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    283 


CHAPTER  XCIV. 

THE  INSTITUTION  OF  THE  BI.ESSED  EUCHARIST. 

Grandma:  After  the  washing  of  the  feet,  Christ 
sat  down  at  table  with  His  disciples  and  said  to 
them:  "Know  you  what  I  have  done  to  you?  You 
call  Me  Master  and  Lord;  and  you  say  well,  for  so  I 
am.  If  then  I,  being  your  Lord  and  Master,  have 
washed  your  feet,  you  ought  also  to  wash  one  an- 
other's feet.  For  I  have  given  you  an  example,  that 
as  I  have  done  to  you,  so  do  you  also." 

The  paschal  lamb  had  been  eaten,  as  ordained  by 
the  law,  and  the  meal  was  drawing  to  a  close ;  Jesus 
took  the  unleavened  bread  in  His  hands,  blessed  it, 
broke  it,  and  gave  it  to  His  disciples,  saying:  "Take 
ye  and  eat.  This  is  My  Body.  And  having  taken 
the  chalice,  giving  thanks.  He  gave  it  to  them, 
saying.  Drink  ye  all  of  this.  This  is  My  Blood  of 
the  New  Testament,  which  shall  be  shed  for  many 
unto  remission  of  sins.  Do  this  for  a  commemoration 
of  Me." 

Little  Louis:  Why  does  our  Lord  say:  "This 
is  My  Body,  this  is  My  Blood,"  when  He  gave  the 
Apostles  only  bread  and  wine? 


284   THE  CHILDREN'vS  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Grandma:  When  Jesus  pronounced  these  divine 
words:  "This  is  My  Body,  this  is  My  Blood,"  the 
bread  and  wine  which  He  held  in  His  hands  were 
miraculously  changed  into  His  Body  and  Blood. 
This  is  called  the  Sacrament  of  the  Holy  Eucharist. 
It  is  a  mystery  of  faith  we  cannot  understand.  There- 
fore, when  Christ  offered  to  His  Apostles  the  un- 
leavened bread  and  the  chalice,  only  the  appearances 
of  bread  and  wine  remained,  and  He  said  truly: 
"Take  and  eat,  this  is  My  Body;  drink  ye,  this  is 
My  Blood." 

In  this  great  Sacrament  our  Lord  proves  His 
boundless  love  for  us,  by  enabling  us  to  unite  our- 
selves to  Him  in  Holy  Communion  whenever  we 
will.  For  Jesus  Christ  gave  to  the  Apostles  and  the 
priests,  who  are  their  successors,  the  power  to  con- 
tinue this   wonderful  miracle. 

Louis:  Grandma,  I  have  never  received  this 
Sacrament. 

Grandma:  You  are  too  young  yet.  Soon  you 
will  make  your  first  Communion,  and  receive  for 
the  first  time  the  Body  and  Blood  of  our  Lord.  Be- 
fore receiving  this  great  favor,  you  must  prepare 
with  great  care,  learn  your  catechism,  and  try  to 
understand  how  precious  is  this  gift  bestowed  upon 
us  by  our  Lord  at  the  Last  Supper. 

Again  Jesus  spoke  of  His  betrayal  which  was  now 
near  at  hand,  saying:  "Woe  to  that  man  by  whom 
the  Son  of  Man  shall  be  betrayed." 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    285 

And  John,  the  beloved  disciple,  was  leaning  on 
the  bosom  of  Jesus. 

Mary  Theresa:     How  was  he  leaning  on  our  Lord? 

Grandma:  As  I  have  already  explained,  the  Jews 
sat  at  table,  and  John  was  seated  next  to  our  Lord. 

John,  therefore,  rested  his  head  on  the  bosom 
of  Jesus,  and  Peter  made  him  a  sign  to  ask  the 
Master  of  whom  He  spoke:  "Lord  who  is  it?" 
whispered  John.  "He  to  whom  I  shall  reach  bread 
dipped."  And,  having  moistened  a  piece  of  bread, 
He  handed  it  to  Judas  Iscariot.  As  soon  as  Judas 
had  eaten  this  piece  of  bread  he  rose  from  the  table 
to  carry  out  his  purpose  and  betray  the  Master. 
"That  which  thou  dost,  do  quickly,"  Jesus  said  to 
him. 

But  none  of  the  disciples  understood  these  words 
of  Christ.  They  thought  that  Judas,  having  in 
charge  the  expenditures  had  something  to  buy  for 
the  festival. 

When  Judas  had  gone  out,  Jesus,  together  with  His 
disciples,  offered  a  prayer  of  thanksgiving. 

Jane:  For  what  did  they  say  a  prayer  of  thanks- 
giving? 

Grandma:  The  disciples  had  just  received  their 
First  Communion;  and  it  was  but  just  that  they 
should  return  thanks  to  the  good  God  for  this  favor 
granted  to  them,  and  to  all  men  till  the  end  of  time, 
by  the  institution  of  the  Holy  Eucharisc. 

John,  the  disciple  whom  Jesus  loved,  wrote  in  his 


286   THE  CHILDREN'S  UFE  OF  CHRIST 

Gospel  a  large  portion  of  the  beautiful  words  of  our 
Lord  on  this  occasion.  I  shall  not  repeat  this  dis- 
course at  the  Last  Supper,  which,  when  you  are 
older,  you  may  read  in  the  Gospel  of  St.  John. 

When  Jesus  had  finished  His  discourse,  and  the 
hymn  had  been  sung.  He  left  the  supper-room, 
followed  by  the  eleven  disciples,  for  the  Mount  of 
Olives,  a  hill  outside  of  Jerusalem.  Here  was  a 
garden  known  as  Gethsemani  where  strangers  coming 
to  Jerusalem,  rested  before  entering  the  city  gates. 

Jesus  often  withdrew  to  this  secluded  spot  to 
spend  the  night  in  prayer.  Judas  had  frequently 
accompanied  Him,  and  hither  he  now  led  the 
soldiers  of  Caiphas,  knowing  they  would  here  find 
the  Christ  absorbed  in  prayer. 


288   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

to  bear  Him  company  for  several  years.  But,  re- 
member, they  who  had  seen  this  same  Christ,  but  a 
short  while  before,  powerful  over  life  and  death,  were 
about  to  see  Him,  who  had  proclaimed  Himself 
the  Son  of  God,  apparently  powerless  before  His 
enemies;  yielding  to  suffering  and  dying  as  all  men 
die. 

This  was  to  be  a  severe  test  of  their  faith  in  His 
word,  and  against  this  temptation  our  Lord  bid  them 
pray. 

And  taking  with  Him  Peter  and  James  and  John, 
Jesus  went  further  to  a  remote  part  of  the  garden, 
and  His  Passion  began. 

Louis :     What  means  the  Passion  ? 

Grandma:  By  Passion  is  meant  the  terrible 
sufferings  our  Lord  endured  for  us.  Of  His  own  free 
will,  Christ  yielded  to  suffering  and  to  death,  that 
He  might  atone  to  His  Father  for  the  sins  of  men. 

"My  soul  is  sorrowful  even  unto  death,"  He  said 
to  His  disciples;  "stay  you  here,  and  watch  with  Me." 

And  overcome  with  sadness.  He  went  a  little 
further  from  them  to  a  corner  of  the  Garden  which 
is  still  pointed  out.  There  He  fell  upon  His  face  in 
great  agony.  All  the  sins  of  men,  all  the  horror  of 
evil  filled  his  soul  and  overpowered  Him.  He  who 
loved  His  Father  from  all  eternity,  saw  that  He  was 
condemned  to  appear  before  Him  bearing  the  sins 
of  the  whole  world,  that  He  might  expiate  for  the 
wickedness  and  ingratitude  of  men. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    289 

Moreover,  Christ  saw  in  spirit  how  many  of  the 
human  race  would  remain  in  their  sins,  in  spite  of  the 
love  He  bore  them,  in  spite  even  of  the  sufferings  He 
bore  for  them.  In  agony  of  mind  He  cried  out  to  His 
Father,  if  it  were  possible  to  let  this  suffering  pass 
from  Him.  Nevertheless,  He  added:  "Not  My  will 
but  Thine  be  done." 

So  great  was  the  agony  of  our  Savior  that  his  body 
was  bathed  in  a  bloody  sweat  while  he  prayed  for 
the  salvation  of  men. 

Little  Louis:  How  the  Lord  Jesus  must  have 
suffered.  Grandma! 

Grandma:  Yes;  He  suffered  more  than  any  other 
creature  ever  has  or  ever  will  suffer.  By  this  agony, 
this  bloody  sweat,  these  tears  and  supplications, 
our  Lord  and  Savior  Jesus  Christ  redeemed  us, 
atoned  for  our  sins.  In  other  words,  He,  our  Re- 
deemer, suffered  the  punishment  due  to  the  human 
race,  that  we  might  be  free  to  enter  the  kingdom 
of  Heaven. 

After  this  anguish  of  soul  and  body  Jesus  rose, 
unrefreshed  and  sad.  Drawing  near  to  His  three 
disciples,  He  foimd  them  asleep,  and  very  sadly  He 
said  to  them:  "What,  could  you  not  watch  one 
hour  with  Me  ?  Watch  ye  and  pray  that  ye  enter  not 
into  temptation." 

Again  He  left  them,  and  casting  Himself  on  the 
ground.    He   repeated    the   same   prayer:     "O    My 


290   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Father,  if  this  chahce  cannot  pass  except  I  drink  it, 
Thy  will  de  done." 

This  prayer,  which  should  be  our  model  in  all  our 
sufferings,  our  Savior  repeated  again  and  again  in 
the  agony  in  the  Garden. 

A  second  time  He  returned  to  His  disciples,  to 
find  them  again  overcome  with  sleep,  and,  full  of 
sadness  that  His  disciples,  even  the  beloved  John, 
should  thus  leave  Him  alone  in  His  agony,  He 
resumed  His  prayer  of  submission  and  of  supplication. 

An  Angel  was  sent  from  Heaven  to  comfort  Him 
in  His  agony,  and  give  Him  strength  to  bear  yet 
greater  suffering.  Our  Savior  here  gives  us  a  lesson 
on  the  necessity  of  prayer.  The  disciples,  who 
neglected  His  warning  and  slept  when  they  should 
have  prayed  for  strength,  failed  when  temptation 
came,  and  fled  from  danger,  leaving  their  Master 
to  suffer  alone,  as  you  will  shortly  see. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    291 


CHAPTER  XCVI. 

JUDAS  BETRAYS  CHRIST 

Grandma:  It  was  midnight,  the  traitor,  Judas, 
was  drawing  near.  Calm  and  serene,  Jesus  rose  from 
prayer  and  approaching  His  disciples  woke  them, 
saying:  "Rise;  behold,  he  that  will  betray  Me  is 
at  hand." 

The  disciples  rose,  frightened,  for  at  that  moment 
they  heard  the  advancing  tread  of  soldiers,  accom- 
panied by  a  large  crowd  carrying  swords  and  staves. 

Judas  had  given  them  a  sign  by  which  they  should 
recognize  Jesus:  "Whomsoever  I  shall  kiss  that  is 
He;   hold   Him   fast." 

Jack:  How  wicked  Judas  was.  He  deserved  to 
be  severely  punished. 

Grandma:  He  was  terribly  punished,  as  you  will 
hear  later. 

And  now,  going  up  to  Jesus,  he  said:  "Hail, 
Master:  and  he  kissed  Him.  Jesus  said  to  him: 
Friend,  whereto  art  thou  come?  Judas,  dost  thou 
betray  the  Son  of  Man  with  a  kiss?" 

Then  Jesus  stepped  forward,  toward  the  soldiers 
who  had  come  to  take  Him  prisoner,  saying :  "Whom 
seek  ye?" 


292   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

"Jesus  of  Nazareth,"  they  cried  out. 

"I  am  He,"  answered  the  Savior.  Hearing  these 
words,  the  soldiers  fell  backwards  on  the  ground 
overcome  with  terror. 

Paul:  I  am  glad  of  that.  I  hope  they  were 
killed! 

Grandma:  No;  our  Savior  permitted  them  to 
rise  unhurt.  He  was  merciful  and  kind  to  the  end. 
He  gave  these  unfortunate  creatures,  for  whom  He 
was  about  to  suffer  and  to  die,  the  time  to  repent  of 
their  sins.  Christ  could  have  had  legions  of  angels 
at  His  command,  but  here,  for  the  last  time,  He 
showed  His  executioners  that  He  had  given  Himself 
into  their  hands  of  His  own  free  will. 

Once  more  He  told  them  He  was  Jesus  of  Nazareth, 
whom  they  sought,  and  they  rose  and  bound  Him 
roughly  and  led  Him  out  of  the  Garden  to  the  court 
of  the  High  Priest,  Annas. 

The  Apostles,  who  had  failed  to  pray  for  strength, 
fled  like  cowards.  Peter  for  a  moment  defended  His 
Master,  and  drawing  his  sword,  cut  off  the  ear  of 
one  of  the  soldiers  called  Malchus. 

Christ  touched  the  wound  and  healed  him,  and 
He  said  to  Peter:  "Put  up  thy  sword  into  its  place. 
The  chalice  which  my  Father  hath  given  Me,  shall 
I  not  drink  it?" 

Jane:     Of  what  chalice  does  our  Lord  speak? 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  spoke  of  the  chalice  of  His 
Passion  and   Death.     When  we  speak  of  drinking 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    293 

the  chalice,  we  mean  we  accept  with  patience  and 
resignation  the  sufferings  and  humiliations  which 
are  sent  to  us  by  the  good  God. 

St.  Peter  fled  with  the  other  disciples,  but  from 
afar  he  and  St.  John  followed  the  Master  to  the 
vestibule  of  the  palace  of  Caiphas,  where  dwelt 
Annas,  the  High  Priest.  Unnoticed,  they  mingled 
in  the  crowd  of  Roman  soldiers  who  were  warming 
themselves  at  the  fire  built  in  the  open  court. 


294   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XCVII. 

JESUS  BEFORE  ANNAS. 

Grandma:  Jesus  was  led  before  the  High  Priest 
Annas,  who  questioned  Him  on  His  doctrino  and  on 
His  disciples. 

Little  Louis :     What  is  doctrine? 

Grandma:  Doctrine  is  the  teaching  of  our  Lord 
and  His  Church  on  matters  of  faith.  Jesus  answered 
with  gentle  dignity:  "I  have  spoken  openly  to  the 
world;  I  have  always  taught  in  the  synagogue  and 
in  the  temple;  why  askest  thou  Me?  Ask  them  who 
have  heard  what  I  have  spoken;  behold,  they  know 
what  things  I  have  said." 

A  rough  soldier,  deeming  this  dignified  reply 
insulting  to  Annas,  gave  Jesus  a  blow  in  the  face, 
saying:     "Answerest    Thou    the    High    Priest   so?" 

Jesus  replied:  "If  I  have  spoken  ill  give  testi- 
mony of  the  evil;  but  if  well,  why  strikest  thou  Me?" 

Camille:     How   patient   our   Lord   was! 

Grandma:  Yes;  throughout  His  whole  Passion 
our  Savior  gives  us  a  wonderful  lesson  in  humility, 
charity,  and  patience.  And  if  soldiers  are  allowed 
to  buffet  Him,  insult  Him,  and  strike  Him — it  is 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    295 

only  that  we  may  learn  to  be  strong  against  humilia- 
tion and  injustice. 

When  our  Lord  and  Savior  suffered  blows,  insults, 
weariness,  hunger,  and  thirst  for  love  of  us,  how  shall 
we  dare  complain  of  being  severely  or  unjustly 
treated? 

What  He,  the  innocent  Jesus,  did  for  love  of  you, 
dear  children,  do  you  for  love  of  Him.  If  a  friend 
is  false  to  you,  think  of  Judas;  if  one  strikes  you, 
think  of  the  blows  Jesus  received  from  these  rough 
soldiers;  and,  in  imitation  of  our  Savior,  keep  your 
peace  of  soul  and  that  deep  humility  full  of  gentleness 
which  forgives  all  injuries. 


296   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XCVIII. 

JESUS  BEFORE  CAIPHAS. 

Grandma:  Our  Savior  remained  only  a  short 
while  before  the  judgment  seat  of  Annas.  Caiphas 
had  assembled  the  council  of  priests  and  princes,  and 
they  notified  Annas  to  send  them  the  prisoner. 
Jesus  was,  therefore,  led  before  this  council  to  be 
judged.  These  men  were  not  seeking  the  truth,  but 
an  excuse  to  condemn  the  Christ,  and  therefore  they 
bribed  false  witnesses  to  appear  before  this  assembly 
and  testify  against  Him. 

These  witnesses  contradicted  one  another  in  their 
false  testimony,  and  the  high  priest,  angered  at  the 
silence  of  our  Savior,  asked  Him  sharply:  "What, 
answerest  Thou  nothing  to  the  things  that  these 
witness  against  Thee?" 

But  our  Lord  was  silent.  "And  the  high  priest 
said  to  Him:  I  adjure  Thee  by  the  living  God,  that 
Thou  tell  us  if  Thou  be  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God." 

Christ  had  not  yet  spoken  before  this  gathering, 
but  when  Caiphas  questioned  Him  in  the  name  of 
God,  He  answered:  "Thou  hast  said  it.  Never- 
theless I  say  to  you,  hereafter  you  shall  see  the  Son 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    297 

of  Man  sitting  on  the  right  hand  of  the  power  of  God, 
and  coming  in  the  clouds  of  heaven," 

Then  the  high  priest  rent  his  garments  saying: 
"He  hath  blasphemed." 

Louis :     Why  did  Caiphas  tear  his  garments  ? 

Grandma:  This  was  to  the  Jews  a  sign  of  great 
indignation,  which  the  high  priest  thus  hypocritically 
expressed. 

"He  is  guilty  of  death,"  they  all  cried  out  at  once. 
And,  throwing  themselves  on  Jesus,  they  spat  on 
Him  and  struck  Him  in  the  face.  The  divine  face 
of  Christ  was  bruised  and  disfigured,  and  at  every 
blow  they  mockingly  asked:  "Christ,  prophesy 
who  struck  Thee." 

Thus  for  several  hours  they  made  sport  of  Jesus 
and  insulted  Him.  Then,  still  ill-treating  Him,  they 
dragged  Him  to  one  of  the  prisons  of  the  palace. 


298  THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  XCIX. 

PETER  DENIES  CHRIST. 

Grandma:  While  the  trial  was  going  on  before 
Caiphas,  Peter  had  remained  in  the  courtyard  with 
the  crowd.  A  few  hours  before  he  had  assured  our 
Lord  of  his  devotion  to  Him  and  to  His  cause. 

He  had  protested  his  love  to  Christ  in  all  sincerity, 
though  with  some  presumption  in  his  own  strength: 
"Though  all  men  shall  be  scandalized  in  Thee,  I  will 
never  be  scandalized."  To  which  our  Lord  had 
answered  sadly:  "Amen  I  say  to  thee  to-day,  even 
in  this  night,  before  the  cock  crow,  thou  wilt  deny 
Me  thrice." 

In  spite  of  his  Master's  warning,  Peter  had  slept 
when  he  should  have  prayed  for  strength,  and, 
therefore,  when  temptation  came  he  denied  Christ 
the  Son  of  God. 

A  servant  had  noticed  him  as  he  entered  the 
courtyard  and  she  asked  him  if  he  were  not  one  of  the 
disciples  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  Peter  replied  that 
he  knew  Him  not. 

But  troubled  at  the  question  and  his  untruthful 
answer,  he  advanced  to  the  group  of  soldiers  to 
warm  himself  by  the  open  fire.     A  few  moments 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     299 

after  another  woman  looked  at  him  and  pointed  him 
out  to  those  who  stood  near.  Questioned  a  second 
time  Peter  again,  and  this  time  with  an  oath,  denied 
that  he  knew  the  Christ. 

An  hour  later  one  of  the  servants  of  Caiphas  who 
had  accompanied  Judas  to  the  Garden,  entered  the 
courtyard,  recognized  Peter,  and  said  to  him:  "Did 
I  not  see  thee  in  the  garden  with  Him?"  And  Peter 
said:     "Man,  I  know  not  what  thou  sayest." 

"And  immediately,  while  he  was  yet  speaking, 
the  cock  crew." 

At  that  moment  Jesus  passed  by  on  His  way  to  the 
prison  of  the  Temple.  Passing  near  Peter,  He  gave 
him  a  look  full  of  reproach  and  compassion.  Peter, 
overcome  with  sadness  and  sorrow  at  this  glance 
from  his  Master,  left  the  courtyard,  and  going  out 
wept  bitterly  in  repentance  of  his  sin  and  of  his  un- 
faithfulness to  the  Master  whom  he  loved. 


300   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  C. 

DESPAIR  AND  DEATH  OF  JUDAS. 

Grandma:  Peter  wept  in  repentance  of  his  sin. 
Though  it  was  great,  he  did  not  despair  of  God's 
mercy.  Judas  also  repented,  as  the  Gospel  tells  us, 
but  his  sorrow  was  not  a  good  repentance. 

Elizabeth:  How  can  that  be,  Grandma?  It 
seems  to  me  all  repentance  must  be  good. 

Grandma:  Repentance  is  good,  and  obtains 
God's  forgiveness,  when  it  comes  from  sorrow  for 
having  done  evil  and  having  offended  the  good  God 
whom  we  love.  The  repentance  of  Judas  sprang 
from  sorrow  for  his  great  sin  in  betraying  the  Son 
of  God,  but,  instead  of  praying  God's  forgiveness 
and  weeping  for  his  sins,  as  St.  Peter  had  done,  he 
despaired  of  God's  mercy  to  forgive  so  great  a  crime. 
Judas  foresaw  a  life  of  shame  and  dishonor  in  the 
eyes  of  all  men  as  a  traitor  and  an  accomplice  in  the 
death  of  his  Master,  and  this  sense  of  shame  over- 
powered all  else,  and  led  him  to  despair. 

When  he  heard  the  condemnation  of  Jesus,  he 
went  to  the  princes  and  ancients  of  the  people,  to 
whom  he  had  sold  the  Christ,  and  throwing  down 
before  them  the  thirty  pieces  of  silver,  he  cried  out : 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    301 

"I  have  sinned  in  betraying  innocent  blood."  The 
priests  and  princes  only  mocked  him,  and  rushing 
out  of  the  city,  his  heart  full  of  rage  and  despair 
at  the  thought  of  his  crime,  "he  hanged  himself  with 
a  halter." 

Our  Lord  had  said:  "Woe  to  that  man  by  whom 
the  Son  of  Man  shall  be  betrayed.  It  were  better 
for  him,  if  that  man  had  not  been  born." 

Judas,  by  his  despair,  forfeited  the  grace  of 
repentance.  He  should  have  called  to  mind  the 
many  instances  he  had  witnessed  of  the  mercy  and 
goodness  of  the  Savior  for  all  sinners.  He  should 
have  bewailed  his  crime  and  implored  forgiveness, 
knowing  that  Christ  would  forgive  his  sin,  however 
great. 

Whatever  sins  we  may  commit,  how  great  soever 
be  our  guilt,  we  must  never  despair  of  the  mercy 
of  God,  which  is  as  great  as  His  love. 


302   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  CI. 

CHRIST  BEFORE  PILATE. 

Grandma:  At  dawn  of  day  Caiphas  again  assem- 
bled the  Council  and  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees. 
Jesus  was  brought  before  them  a  second  time  and 
questioned  as  on  the  day  before.  He  testified  again 
that  He  was  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  made  Man. 
He  was  condemned  to  die,  but,  as  the  Roman  Gov- 
ernor alone  could  order  the  execution  of  a  prisoner, 
Jesus  was  led  to  the  palace  of  Pontius  Pilate,  who 
governed  Jerusalem  in  the  name  of  the  Emperor  of 
Rome. 

Pilate  was  a  weak  and  selfish  character.  He  tried 
to  please  everybody,  without  regard  to  the  justice 
of  his  judgments. 

It  was  about  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  when  Jesus 
was  led  before  this  tribunal.  The  Jews  accused  Him 
of  many  crimes  and  they  testified  that  He  had  said 
He  was  the  King  of  the  Jews. 

Pilate  questioned  Jesus,  and  was  struck  with  His 
dignity   and   gentleness. 

"Art  Thou  the  King  of  the  Jews?"  he  asked. 
And   Jesus    answered:     "Thou    hast   said    it.     My 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    303 

kingdom  is  not  of  this  world.  If  My  kindgom  were 
of  this  world,  My  servants  would  strive  that  I  should 
not  be  delivered  to  the  Jews.  I  came  into  the 
world  that  I  should  give  testimony  to  the  truth." 

"And  what  is  truth?"  asked  Pilate;  but  he  did 
not  wait  for  the  reply  of  our  Lord,  for  he  did  not  care 
to  know  the  truth.  Turning  to  the  Jews,  he  told 
them  that  he  could  find  no  fault  to  condemn  in  this 
Man,  but  that  he  would  send  Him  to  Herod,  the 
Tetrarch  of  Galilee. 

Paul :     What  is  a  Tetrarch  ? 

Grandma:  A  Tetrarch  is  a  king  over  a  small 
province.  Herod  ruled  over  the  province  of  Galilee. 
And  Pilate,  having  learnt  that  Jesus  was  a  Galilean, 
and  desiring  to  make  friends  with  Herod,  sent  him 
this  prisoner  from  his  own  province. 


304   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  CXI. 

CHRIST  BEFORE  HEROD. 

Grandma:  Herod,  ruler  of  Galilee,  was  a  cruel 
and  arrogant  prince.  He  had  heard  of  Christ  and 
of  His  miracles,  and  he  hoped  to  see  a  display  of 
His  wonderful  power.  But  the  Son  of  God  was 
silent  in  the  presence  of  Herod.  Angry  and  dis- 
appointed, Herod  mocked  Him,  and,  in  derision, 
had  Him  clothed  in  a  white  garment,  which  in 
Galilee  was  the  attire  used  to  designate  fools.  Still 
mocking  Jesus,  he  placed  in  His  hand  a  reed  as  a 
mock  scepter  of  royalty,  and  sent  Him  back  to 
Pilate,  accompanied  by  a  derisive  crowd,  which,  on 
His  sorrowful  way,  struck  and  insulted  the  Divine 
Prisoner. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    305 


CHAPTER  cm. 

CHRIST  SENT  BACK  TO  PIIvATE. 

Grandma:  Amid  the  cries  of  the  populace, 
excited  by  the  Pharisees,  Christ  appeared  before 
Pilate's  tribunal.  Again  he  questioned  Jesus,  who 
remained  silent,  answering  not  a  word  to  His 
accusers. 

Jack:  Why  did  He  not  answer?  It  seems  to  me 
He  might  have  shown  Pilate  that  He  was  innocent. 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  read  the  hearts  of  men,  and 
He  knew  well  that  fear  of  the  Emperor  and  of  the 
Jewish  people  would  prevent  Pilate,  who  was  weak, 
from  being  just.  Moreover,  when  Pilate  had  asked 
Christ,  "What  is  truth?"  he  had  not  waited  for  the 
Savior's  answer.  Now,  Pilate  was  greatly  perplexed 
at  our  Lord's  silence.  He  did  not  wish  to  condemn 
Christ,  whom  he  believed  to  be  innocent,  yet  he 
wished  to  please  this  Jewish  mob,  for  he  feared  to 
make  enemies  and  thereby  lose  his  position  as 
Governor  of  Judea. 

Too  weak  and  cowardly  to  release  the  innocent 
prisoner  who  stood  before  him,  Pilate  thought  of  a 
plan  whereby  he  might  save  Jesus  from  death,  and 
yet  not  lose  the  favor  of  the  people. 


306   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

On  the  Feast  of  the  Passover  it  was  customary  for 
the  Emperor  to  forgive  one  prisoner  sentenced  to 
death.  Barabbas,  a  robber,  condemned  to  die,  was 
waiting  execution  in  the  prisons  of  Jerusalem. 
Pilate  had  determined  to  release  this  man.  However, 
knowing  Barabbas  was  greatly  feared  for  his  many 
crimes,  Pilate  decided  to  offer  to  the  crowd  the 
release  of  the  innocent  Jesus  in  place  of  that  of  the 
wicked  Barabbas. 

But  the  crowd,  whom  the  Pharisees  had  stirred 
into  hatred  of  Jesus,  called  loudly  to  Pilate  to  for- 
give Barabbas,  but  not  the  Christ. 

And  Pilate  asked:  "What  shall  I  do,  then,  with 
Jesus  that  is  called  Christ?" 

"Crucify  Him,"  answered  this  ungrateful  people. 

Thus  Jesus  saved  Barabbas  who  deserved  to  die, 
as  by  His  death  on  the  cross  He  saved  all  the  children 
of  Adam  from  eternal  death. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    307 


CHAPTER  CIV. 

CHRIST  IS  SCOURGED. 

Grandma:  Pilate  still  hesitated  to  give  sentence 
of  death:  "I  find  no  cause  of  death  in  Him,"  he 
repeated  again  to  this  angry  crowd;  but  they  only 
replied  the  louder:     "Crucify  Him!     Crucify  Him!" 

Thinking  to  satisfy  their  rage,  and  save  Jesus 
from  death,  he  ordered  Him  to  be  scourged:  I  will 
chastise  Him,  therefore,  and  let  Him  go,"  he  said, 
frightened  at  the  clamor  of  the  people. 

Our  Lord  was  given  up  to  the  executioners,  who 
dragged  Him  to  the  courtyard  of  the  palace.  There 
the  Roman  soldiers  stripped  Him  of  the  white  robe 
in  which  Herod  had  clothed  Him  and,  binding  Him 
to  a  pillar,  scourged  Him  with  untold  cruelty.  His 
sacred  flesh  was  torn  by  the  heavy  leather  thongs 
used  by  the  Romans  in  execution  of  this  sentence 
of  punishment. 

Finally,  wearied  of  striking,  they  unbound  Jesus 
and,  throwng  over  Him  a  scarlet  cloak,  they  crowned 
Him  with  a  crown  of  thorns  whose  sharp  points 
pierced  His  brow;  in  His  hands  they  placed  the  reed 
sceptre  which  Herod  had  forced  on  Him.  "Hail, 
King  of  the  Jews!"  they  mockingly  said  as  they  bent 


308   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

their  knees  before  Him  in  mock  adoration,  and  spat 
upon  Him,  struck  Him,  and  reviled  Him. 

All  this,  my  children,  our  Savior  suffered  for  our 
sins,  that  he  might  redeem  us  and  save  us  from  the 
power  of  the  evil  one. 

How  ungrateful  we  are  to  forget  the  Passion  of 
Christ  and  continue  to  offend  Him,  preferring  our 
pleasure  to  the  love  He  offers  us.  Man's  ingratitude 
was  one  of  our  Lord's  keenest  sufferings,  for  He  loves 
us  and  longs  to  save  us ;  but  against  our  own  will  He 
cannot  do  so. 

All  these  cruel  sufferings  of  Christ  we  make  useless 
for  us  when  we  sin.  Let  us  pray  for  one  another,  my 
children,  that  our  hearts  may  overflow  with  love 
and  gratitude  towards  this  bountiful  Savior,  that 
we  may  profit  by  His  sufferings  and  death,  which 
purchased  for  us  eternal  life. 


Pilate  Condemns  Christ  to  Death 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    309 


CHAPTER  CV. 

PILATE  CONDEMNS  CHRIST  TO  DEATH. 

Grandma:  Broken  with  suffering,  crowned  with 
thorns,  the  red  robe  hanging  on  His  blood-covered 
shoulders,  Christ  was  dragged  before  the  judgment 
seat.  Moved  with  pity  at  this  spectacle,  Pilate  led 
Jesus  out  of  the  Hall  of  the  Pretorium,  in  sight  of  all 
the  people.  He  hoped  the  sight  of  their  victim, 
disfigured  and  covered  with  blood,  would  inspire 
in  their  hearts  some  compassion. 

"Behold  the  Man!"  said  Pilate.  Yes,  behold  the 
Man  whom  they  had  tortured,  treated  with  ignominy 
and  despised. 

"Behold  the  Man!"  God  Himself  made  man, 
suffering  for  those  who  will  not  recognize  His 
Divinity.  Behold  the  God-Man,  whose  life  we  have 
followed  from  Bethlehem  to  this  day,  who  now 
of  His  own  free  will  suffers  and  is  about  to  die  for  all 
men  whom  He  calls  His  brothers. 

But  the  Jews  showed  no  pity,  their  hearts  were 
shut  even  at  sight  of  so  much  agony.  They  wanted 
the  ignominious  death  of  the  cross  for  this  innocent 
victim.  "Crucify  Him!  Crucify  Him!"  they  cried, 
their  voices  growing  louder  and  louder. 


310   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Pilate,  stirred  by  so  much  ingratitude,  spoke  again: 

"Why  what  evil  hath  this  man  done?  I  find  no 
cause  in  Him.     Shall  I  crucify  your  King?" 

"We  have  no  king  but  Caesar,"  cried  the  mob. 
"We  have  a  law,  and  according  to  that  law  He 
ought  to  die,  because  He  made  Himself  the  Son  of 
God;  and  if  thou  release  this  man  thou  art  not 
Caesar's  friend." 

Hearing  these  words  Pilate  was  filled  with  fear, 
and  strove  to  smother  the  voice  of  his  conscience. 
Ascending  the  steps  of  the  tribunal  which,  accord- 
ing to  the  custom  of  ancient  times,  was  in  the  open 
air,  he  called  for  a  basin  of  water,  and  washing  his 
hands  in  presence  of  the  crowd,  he  said:  "I  am  in- 
nocent of  the  blood  of  this  just  Uian;  look  you  to  it !" 

"His  blood  be  upon  us  and  upon  our  children," 
answered  the  people.  This  people,  until  now  the 
chosen  people  of  God,  blessed  from  the  beginning 
with  His  special  protection,  now  became  accursed  and, 
like  Cain,  wanderers  on  the  surface  of  the  earth; 
hated  and  despised  by  all  men,  as  the  executioners 
of  Christ. 

Having  purified  his  hands,  by  which  means  he 
sought  in  vain  to  purify  his  soul,  Pilate  condemned 
Jesus  to  the  most  cruel  and  ignominious  death,  the 
death  of  the  cross. 

He  ordered  that  the  inscription  which  it  was  the 
custom  to  place  on  the  cross  over  the  head  of  the 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    311 

condemned  man  should  be  written  in  the  three 
languages  known  as  the  sacred  languages — Latin, 
Greek,  and  Hebrew:  "Jesus  of  Nazareth,  king  of  the 
Jews." 

Louis:  Why  do  you  call  them  sacred  languages, 
Grandma? 

Grandma:  Because  the  Psalms,  the  Old  Tes- 
tament, and  the  Gospels,  and  all  those  writings  we 
call  the  Sacred  Scriptures,  are  written  in  these  lan- 
guages. 

This  inscription  did  not  please  the  Pharisees. 
They  wanted  it  to  read  that  Jesus  had  called  Himself 
King  of  the  Jews,  not  that  He  was  their  King. 

Pilate  despised  the  Jews  and  answered  angrily: 
"What  is  written  is  written."  He  realized  they  had 
led  him  to  commit  a  contemptible  and  cowardly 
deed,  for  which  his  conscience  reproached  him 
keenly. 

It  was  about  eight  in  the  morning  when  Pilate 
pronounced  the  sentence  condemning  our  Lord  to 
the  death  of  the  cross. 

To  render  the  crucifixion  more  ignominious  and 
more  striking,  two  thieves  who  lay  waiting  execution 
in  one  of  the  prisons  of  the  city  were  condemned  to  be 
crucified   with   Christ. 

While  all  these  preparations  were  taking  place,  the 
soldiers  of  Pilate  continued  to  ill-treat  the  Savior  as 
they  had  done  before  his  condemnation. 


312  THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

When  all  was  in  readiness,  Christ  left  the  Pre- 
torium  for  Golgotha,  or  Mount  Calvary,  carrying  His 
own  cross. 


Christ  C&rries  His  Cross 


THE  CHILDREN'S  UFK  OF  CHRIST    313 


CHAPTER  CVI. 

CHRIST  CARRIES  HIS  CROSS. 

Grandma:  The  road  which  our  Savior  walked, 
between  Pilate's  palace  and  Mount  Calvary,  is  still 
pointed  out  in  Jerusalem  and  trod  by  many  pil- 
grims, who  thus  really  follow  the  foot-steps  of  Christ 
on  His  sorrowful  journey.  This  we  do  also  in  spirit 
when  we  make  the  "Way  of  the  Cross,  orthe  Stations." 

In  spite  of  His  great  weakness  Jesus  was  forced 
to  carry  His  cross  to  Calvary,  the  place  of  His 
execution.  Several  times  He  fell  beneath  its  heavy- 
weight, which,  none  the  less,  was  to  Him  a  dear 
burden,  since  through  its  means  He  was  to  save  the 
world. 

If  you  go  to  Jerusalem  you  will  see  the  spot  where 
Jesus  met  His  beloved  mother  accompanied  by 
St.  John,  Mary  Magdalene,  and  the  other  holy 
women.  Here  His  mother  waited  to  join  Him  in 
His  sorrowful  journey  and  be  with  Him  to  the  end. 

Tradition  tells  us  that  one  of  these  holy  women, 
filled  with  pity  and  compassion  at  sight  of  Jesus 
covered  with  sweat  and  blood,  wiped  His  face  with  a 
napkin.     Our  Savior  rewarded  this  act  of  courage 


314   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

and  of  love  by  leaving  on  this  napkin  the  imprint  of 
His  divine  face. 

Jesus,  and  the  thieves  who  were  to  be  crucified 
with  Him,  finally  reached  Golgotha,  the  height  of 
Mount  Calvary,  at  about  nine  in  the  morning,  or,  as 
the  Jews  express  it,  at  the  third  hour. 

Elizabeth:     Why  do  they  call  it  the  third  hour? 

Grandma:  The  Jews  did  not  count  the  hours  as 
we  do.  They  counted  from  the  rising  of  the  sun  to 
its  setting.  As  all  this  happened  in  April  when  the 
sun  rises  at  six  o'clock,  the  third  hour  from  its  rising 
would  be  about  nine  o'clock.  In  like  manner,  the 
Gospel  says  Jesus  died  at  the  ninth  hour,  or  three 
o'clock  according  to  our  manner  of  expressing  it. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    315 


CHAPTER  CVII. 

CHRIST  IS  CRUCIFIED. 

Grandma:  Having  reached  the  summit  of  Mount 
Calvary  the  executioners  stripped  our  Lord  of  His 
robe  and  the  mantle  which  covered  His  blood- 
stained shoulders.  They  laid  the  cross  on  the  ground 
and  upon  it  they  stretched  our  Savior,  nailing  His 
feet  and  His  outstretched  hands  to  the  wood  of  the 
cross.  Above  His  thorn-crowned  head  they  placed 
Pilate's  inscription;  "Jesus  of  Nazareth,  King  of  the 
Jews!" 

Then,  lifting  the  cross,  they  stood  it  in  the  ground, 
in  a  hole  dug  for  the  purpose,  and  the  Savior  of  the 
world  was  raised  up,  His  arms  outstretched,  as  if 
to  embrace  all  men  whom  He  had  come  to  save. 

On  either  side  of  our  Savior  they  crucified  the  two 
thieves.  The  soldiers  divided  His  garments  among 
them;  but  as  His  robe  was  without  seams  and  they 
would  not  cut  it  in  two,  they  cast  lots  to  determine 
who  should  have  it. 

All  these  details  of  the  Passion  of  Christ  had  been 
predicted  by  the  Prophets  many  centuries  before 
the  coming  of  the  Messias. 


316   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Mount  Calvary  was  crowded  with  people  and  the 
Pharisees  were  rejoicing  over  their  triumph. 

Sneeringly  they  spoke  to  Christ:  "If  Thou  be  the 
Son  of  God,  come  down  from  the  Cross!"  And 
others  mockingly  said:  "He  saved  others,  Himself 
He  cannot  save.  If  He  be  the  King  of  Israel  let 
Him  come  down  from  the  cross  and  we  will  beUeve 
in  Him." 

Elizabeth:  Why  did  not  our  Lord  perform  this 
miracle,  and  come  down  from  the  cross?  They 
would  have  all  been  converted. 

Grandma :  This  miracle  would  not  have  converted 
them  any  more  than  the  raising  of  Lazarus,  or  the 
curing  of  the  man  born  blind. 

Remember  the  Pharisees  were  not  ignorant,  but 
their  hearts  were  blinded  by  pride  and  hatred. 
Moreover,  remember  that  at  the  very  beginning  of 
His  Passion,  our  Lord  had  yielded  to  His  Father  all 
His  divine  power  as  the  Son  of  God.  For  Himself  He 
kept  only  the  weakness  of  human  nature  as  Son  of 
Man. 

The  hour  for  miracles  which  would  show  His 
divine  power  was  over.  Yet,  had  the  Jews  but 
understood,  the  sacrifice  of  Christ  on  Mount  Calvary 
was  the  greatest  of  all  His  miracles,  a  miracle  of  love. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    317 


CHAPTER   CVIII. 

THE  CONVERSION  OF  THE  GOOD  THIEF. 

Grandma:  Above  the  tumult  of  the  multitude; 
above  their  sneers  and  jeers,  the  voice  of  Christ  was 
heard  speaking  to  His  Father:  "Father,  forgive 
them,  for  they  know  not  what  they  do." 

Madeleine:  But  it  was  their  fault,  Grandma,  for 
our  Lord  had  told  them  over  and  over  who  he  was. 

Grandma:  Yes,  surely  He  had,  but  once  more  He 
strives  to  touch  their  hearts;  once  more  He  appeals 
to  His  Father  for  their  forgiveness.  He  does  for 
them  what  he  does  for  us,  and  we  treat  Him  as  did 
the  Jews. 

Elizabeth:  Oh,  Grandma!  none  of  us  ever  treated 
our  Lord  as  those  dreadful  people  did. 

Grandma:  Each  time  we  sin  we  strike  our  Lord, 
we  insult  Him.  Each  sin  we  commit  was  atoned  for 
by  the  wounds  in  His  hands  and  in  His  feet,  by  the 
precious  blood  He  poured  forth  for  us;  by  His  agony 
and  death.  When  we  sin  mortally  we  aid  His  exe- 
cutioners and  crucify  our  Lord. 

Madeleine :  This  is  a  fearful  thought.  Grandma,  to 
think  we  are  no  better  than  those  wicked  men. 


318   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Grandma:  We  are  as  wicked  as  they  when  we 
commit  mortal  sins,  which  kill  the  grace  of  God  in  our 
souls.  Being  but  weak  creatures,  we  often  fall  into 
sins  without  reflection,  yet  without  bad  will.  These 
are  venial  sins,  as  your  catechism  teaches,  and  these 
sins  do  not  make  us  guilty  of  the  death  of  Christ. 
However,  we  all,  more  or  less,  have  been  the  cause 
of  the  suffering  of  Christ,  which  He  willingly  bore  for 
us  all.  Therefore,  we  have  good  cause  to  weep  over 
the  passion  of  our  Savior,  and  at  the  remembrance 
of  our  sins  for  which  He  atoned  by  His  cruel  suffer- 
ings and  death. 

At  these  wonderful  words,  full  of  mercy  and  love, 
"Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  know  not  what  they 
do,"  the  heart  of  Dismas,  the  thief  crucified  at  our 
Lord's  right  hand,  was  moved  with  deep  and  sincere 
contrition  for  his  sins.  At  sight  of  so  much  love 
and  mercy,  he  recognized  the  Son  of  God,  and,  turn- 
ing towards  Jesus,  his  eyes  full  of  tears  of  sorrow, 
his  soul  full  of  deep  humility  and  stirred  by  a  great 
hope,  he  said:  "Lord,  remember  me  when  Thou 
shalt  come  into  Thy  Kingdom.  And  Jesus  said  to 
him:  Amen  I  say  to  thee,  this  day  thou  shalt  be 
with  Me  in  Paradise." 

Jack:     How  happy  the  poor  thief  must  have  beea; 

Grandma:  This  blessed  promise  rejoiced  the  good 
thief  in  his  last  hour,  and  shows  us  it  is  never  too  late 
to  repent.     The  greatest  sinner  may  be  forgiven  if, 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    319 

with  sincere  contrition,  he  turns  to  God  and  begs 
His  forgiveness. 

But  death  often  comes  unawares  and  we  must  not 
trust  for  the  grace  of  repentance  on  the  last  day,  for 
we  may  not  have  time  to  turn  to  God,  as  did  the 
good  thief. 


320   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  CIX. 

CHRIST  LEAVES  HIS  MOTHER  TO  ST.  JOHN. 

Grandma:  For  three  hours  our  Savior  hung  upon 
the  cross.  From  the  sixth  to  the  ninth  hour,  great 
darkness  covered  the  earth. 

Peter:  Was  it  an  ecHpse  of  the  sun  such  as  I 
have  studied  about? 

Grandma:  No,  this  was  a  miraculous  darkness 
which  cannot  be  explained.  We  read  of  this  fact 
in  history  as  well  as  in  the  Gospels. 

At  the  foot  of  the  cross  stood  Mary  the  Mother  of 
Jesus,  calm  and  resigned,  but  her  heart  torn  with 
sorrow. 

Elizabeth:  Poor  Blessed  Mother,  it  must  have 
taken  a  great  deal  of  courage  to  stand  there. 

Grandma:  The  Blessed  Virgin  had  received,  as 
Mother  of  God,  a  supernatural  strength.  The 
Gospel  expressly  says  she  "stood"  at  the  foot  of  the 
cross,  on  which  her  beloved  Son  was  nailed.  She 
stood  at  the  foot  of  the  cross,  like  a  priest  at  the  alter 
offering  up  the  sacrifice  of  the  Mass.  With  her  Son 
she  accepted  His  sufferings  in  all  submission  to  the 
will  of  the  Father.  With  Him  she  offered  up  His 
life  for  the  salvation  of  all  men. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    321 

St.  John  was  with  the  Blessed  Virgin  and  also 
Mary  Magdalene,  and  other  good  women,  who  had 
ministered  to  Jesus  during  His  life  and  who  loved 
Him  dearly.  Gathering  His  fast  ebbing  strength, 
Jesus  looked  lovingly  and  sadly  at  His  Mother,  and 
then  at  John  His  beloved  disciple,  and  turning  first 
to  His  mother.  He  said :  "Woman,  behold  thy  son !" 
And  then  to  John:     "Behold  thy  mother!" 

All  the  human  race  was  represented  on  Mt, 
Calvary,  and  He  gave  Mary  to  us  all  as  our  mother 
when  He  left  her  to  St.  John's  care;  and  to  His 
Mother  He  gave  all  mankind  in  the  person  of  St.  John. 

Not  content  to  leave  us  His  body  and  His  blood 
in  the  Blessed  Eucharist  to  be  our  food  and  drink; 
here  on  Mount  Calvary  Jesus  leaves  us  His  own 
Mother,  that  she  may  protect  and  help  us  as  a  true 
mother  would.  And  we  must  love  and  venerate  the 
Mother  of  Jesus,  now  become  our  mother,  and  ask 
her  for  all  our  needs.  She  will  hear  us  and  obtain  for 
us  God's  grace. 

Thus  our  Lord  Jesus  and  Mary  are  inseparable, 
for  they  are  Mother  and  Son ;  and  Mary  shares  the 
love  of  Christ  Jesus  for  us  all. 


322   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  ex. 

CHRIST  DIES  ON  THE  CROSS. 

Grandma:  The  last  solemn  hour  was  drawing 
near.  The  darkness  which  covered  the  earth  now 
began  to  disperse,  disclosing  to  all  the  body  of  the 
Son  of  God  hanging  upon  the  cross.  His  blood  had  all 
been  poured  out,  His  strength  was  spent,  His  eyes 
were  growing  dim  at  the  approach  of  death.  That 
we  might  understand  His  anguish  and  the  extreme 
loneliness  of  His  last  hour,  Jesus  cried  out:  "My 
God,  My  God,  why  hast  Thou  forsaken  Me?"  He 
no  longer  called  God  His  Father  He  was  bearing 
the  sins  of  the  whole  world  that  He  might  expiate 
them;  and  in  the  sight  of  God  He  represented  all 
sinners.  He  was  now  saddened,  for  His  Father 
seemed  to  turn  from  Him,  and  He  felt  in  His  Hu- 
manity the  estrangement  from  God's  love  which  is 
due  to  sinners. 

Again  He  spoke.  His  voice  grown  faint;  "I 
thirst!" 

A  soldier  standing  by,  moved  with  compassion, 
took  a  sponge  dipped  in  vinegar  and  water,  and 
placing  it  on  the  end  of  a  reed,  moistened  the  lips 
of    the    Savior. 


\ 


%-^': 


4  •   •  \ 


V 


/. 


I:.  '• 


Christ  Dies  on  the  Cross 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    323 

This  act  of  mercy  had  been  announced  by  the 
Prophets,  and  Jesus,  knowing  that  now  all  the 
prophecies  had  been  fulfilled,  and  that  the  redemp- 
tion of  the  world  was  accomplished,  murmured: 
"It  is  consummated!"  The  purpose  of  His  coming 
on  this  earth  was  completed. 

And,  lifting  up  His  thorn  crowned  head,  Jesus 
cried  with  a  loud  voice:  "Father,  into  Thy  hands 
I  commend  My  spirit."  And  bowing  His  head, 
our  Redeemer  died. 


324   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  CXI. 

CHRIST  IS  BURIED. 

After  a  few  moments  of  silence,  Grandma  took  up 
again  the  thread  of  the  story :  The  Son  of  God  had 
died;  God,  the  creator  of  the  earth  and  sea  and  sky, 
God,  who  commands  Hfe  and  death,  had  given  up 
His  life.  The  gates  of  heaven  had  been  closed  since 
the  sin  of  the  first  man,  Adam.  This  sin,  which 
your  catechism  teaches  is  called  original  sin,  was 
now  atoned  for.  Henceforth  man  was  saved  and 
could  enter  heaven  if  he  kept  God's  law. 

Our  Savior  died  on  Good  Friday.  At  his  death 
the  earth  trembled,  the  rock  of  Mount  Calvary  was 
rent  in  two,  and  a  great  terror  spread  over  Jerusa- 
lem. The  curtain  in  the  Temple,  which  separated 
the  Holy  of  Holies  from  the  Temple  was  torn  from 
top  to  bottom.  This  showed  that  the  Old  Law  was 
done  away  with;  the  New  Law  stood  in  its  place. 

At  our  Lord's  death,  His  soul  descended  into 
Limbo.  This  was  a  place  where  the  souls  of  the 
just  who  had  died  before  the  coming  of  Christ 
waited  for  the  Redemption,  that  they  might  enter 
heaven.     Here  our  Lord  went  to  announce  the  joyfut 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    325 

tidings  that  heaven  was  opened  and  sin  atoned  for 
and  all  mankind  at  peace  with  heaven. 

Our  Lord's  body  still  hung  on  the  cross.  Night 
was  drawing  near,  and  as  the  next  day  was  the 
Sabbath  day,  the  bodies  on  Mount  Calvary  had  to  be 
buried  without  delay. 

To  make  sure  that  the  two  thieves  were  dead, 
the  soldiers  broke  their  legs.  When  they  came  to 
Jesus  they  found  He  was  dead,  but  to  make  sure 
that  the  body  was  lifeless,  one  of  the  soldiers  pierced 
His  side  with  a  lance. 

St.  John,  who  still  stood  at  the  foot  of  the  cross, 
tells  us  in  the  Gospel  which  he  wrote,  that  from  this 
wound  flowed  water  and  blood ;  which  represents  the 
two  sacraments  of  Baptism  and  the  Holy  Eucharist. 

One  of  the  disciples,  who  was  rich  and  powerful, 
named  Joseph  of  Arimathea,  went  to  Pilate  and 
asked  permission  to  take  the  body  of  our  Lord  and 
bury  it  in  a  sepulchre  he  owned  at  the  foot  of  Mount 
Calvary. 

Pilate,  having  made  sure  Christ  was  dead,  granted 
the  request. 

Joseph,  aided  by  St.  John  and  other  disciples, 
took  the  body  of  Christ  down  from  the  cross  and 
gently  laid  it  in  the  arms  of  His  Mother.  From  His 
brow  they  lifted  the  cruel  crown  of  thorns,  and  drew 
out  the  nails  from  His  wounded  hands  and  feet. 
They  wrapped  His  body  in  a  winding  sheet  and 
covered  His  head  with  a  cloth.     Then  they  gently 


326   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

carried  their  most  precious  burden  to  the  tomb  which 
Joseph  of  Arimathea  had  cut  in  the  rock.  This 
sepulchre  of  Christ  is  still  shown  and  visited  by 
pilgrims  from  all  over  the  world.  After  one  last 
look,  one  last  kiss,  Mary,  now  indeed  the  Mother 
of  Sorrows,  left  Christ  in  the  sepulchre  and  together 
with  John,  her  adopted  son,  and  the  holy  women,  re- 
turned sadly  to  Jerusalem. 

The  priests  and  Pharisees  had,  from  a  distance, 
witnessed  all  these  sad  ceremonies.  They  remem- 
bered Jesus  had  said  that  He  would  rise  on  the  third 
day  after  His  death.  They  went,  therefore,  to 
Pilate,  asking  him  for  soldiers  to  guard  the  tomb 
"for  fear"  they  said,  "that  His  disciples  should  come 
and  steal  Him  away  and  tell  he  people  He  is  risen 
from  the  dead."  Pilate,  answered:  "You  have  a 
guard,  guard  it  as  you  know." 

Then  with  great  care  the  Jews  shut  the  entrance 
to  the  sepulchre  with  a  great  stone  sealed  with  the 
seal  of  the  Temple,  and  around  it  set  a  guard  of 
soldiers  to  watch  day  and  night  and  prevent  its 
being    broken    into. 

Peter:  They  thought  this  would  prevent  Jesus 
from  rising  from  the  dead.  No  doubt  when  He  rose 
in  spite  of  them  they  were  converted. 

Grandma:  This  miracle,  of  which  I  shall  tell 
you,  did  not  convert  them  any  more  than  all  former 
miracles  of  our  Lord  had  done,  and  this  not  with- 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    327 

standing  that  all  these  precautions  which  they  took 
to  prevent  this  great  miracle  only  helped  to  render 
the  resurrection  of  Christ  more  striking. 


328   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  CXII. 

RESURRECTION  OF  CHRIST. 

Grandma:  On  fourteen  different  occasions  during 
His  life,  our  Lord  had  foretold  His  resurrection  after 
death.  He  had  offered  this  miracle  to  the  Apostles 
and  to  the  Jews  as  a  sign  of  His  Divinity;  as  a  sign 
that  He  was  truly  God,  equal  to  His  Father,  ruler 
over  life  and  death.  The  enemies  of  Christ  so  fully 
understood  the  great  importance  of  the  resurrection 
as  a  proof  of  Christ's  Divine  mission,  that  they  took 
every  means  to  prevent  its  possibility.  By  their 
care  to  prevent  it  they  made  the  resurrection  of 
Christ  only  the  more  remarkable. 

The  very  soldiers  who  guarded  the  tomb  of  Christ 
witnessed  His  glorious  resurrection.  The  disciples 
had  spent  the  Sabbath  day  overpowered  with  grief. 
They  had  forgotten  His  promise  that  He  would  rise 
again  on  the  third  day.  He  whom  they  loved  was 
dead  and  it  was  hard  to  believe  in  His  divinity  in 
this  dark  hour  of  sorrow.  The  holy  women,  on 
their  return  to  Jerusalem,  had  bought  one  hundred 
pounds  of  sweet  spices  that  they  might,  when  the 
Sabbath  day  would  be  over,  embalm  the  body  of 
Jesus. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     329 

At  dawn  on  Easter  Sunday  the  Holy  Sepulchre 
was  broken  open.  An  angel  from  heaven,  brighter 
than  the  sun,  appeared  before  the  astonished  guards 
and  rolled  back  the  stone  which  blocked  the  sepulchre. 
The  guards  fell  back  as  if  dead,  so  great  was  their 
fear;  and  as  soon  as  they  were  able  to  rise  they  fled 
to  the  city.  The  Son  of  God  had  risen  from  the  dead. 
He  had  fulfilled  the  prophecy  which  He  had  made. 
Our  Lord  had  conquered  death  for  us,  all  sons  of 
Adam. 

Jack:  How  can  death  be  conquered.  It  is  not 
a  man  you  can  meet  and  fight? 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  conquered  death  by  His 
resurrection,  that  is  to  say  that,  by  atoning  for  the 
sins  of  man,  He  gave  to  souls  eternal  life  and  to  our 
bodies  the  power  to  rise  again  from  the  dead  on  the 
last  day.  Even  as  Christ  took  up  His  body  again, 
so  shall  we  all. 

If  we  have  been  faithful  here  on  this  earth,  where 
we  are  tried,  our  bodies  will  share  in  our  reward  in 
heaven,  as  they  will  share  in  our  eternal  punish- 
ment if  we  are  unfaithful.  Then  the  guards  fled 
to  the  city  and  told  the  High  Priests  and  princes  what 
had  happened,  but  they  continued  unbelieving.  Still 
full  of  hatred  and  envy,  they  gave  money  to  the 
soldiers  as  a  bribe  that  they  might  say  that  during 
the  night  the  disciples  had  stolen  away  the  body 
of  Jesus. 

Jane:     Did  the  people  believe  this  wicked  story? 


330   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Grandma:  No;  because  the  miracle  was  too 
evident.  First  the  guards  could  not  all  have  slept 
at  once  and  so  soundly  that  the  noise  of  the  breaking 
of  the  sepulchre  could  not  have  wakened  them. 
Moreover,  no  one  could  readily  believe  that  the 
disciples,  who  were  so  timid  that  they  had  fled  from 
their  Master  at  the  first  sign  of  danger,  should  have 
become  strong  and  fearless  enough  to  fight  the 
armed  men  who  were  watching  the  sepulchre. 
Then,  too,  if  the  soldiers  had  slept  while  on  duty 
the  High  Priests  and  princes  would  have  thrown 
them  into  prison  and  used  them  as  witnesses  before 
the  people  against  the  disciples  of  Christ  instead  of 
bribing  them  to  keep  silence. 

The  news  of  the  resurrection  of  our  Lord  soon 
spread  far  and  wide ;  and  prepared  the  way  for  the 
thousands  of  conversions  brought  about  later  on  by 
the  preaching  of  St.  Peter  and  the  other  Apostles, 


THE  CHILDREN'S  UFE  OF  CHRIST    331 


CHAPTER  CXIII. 

MARY  MAGDALENE  AT  THE  TOMB  OF  CHRIST, 

Grandma:  Very  early  in  the  morning  of  Easter 
Sunday  Mary  Magdalene  set  out  to  visit  the  Holy 
Sepulchre.  Mary  was  the  converted  sinner  who 
had  bathed  the  feet  of  Christ  with  tears  of  repentance, 
and  who  had  accompanied  the  Blessed  Mother  to 
Calvary  and  stood  with  her  at  the  foot  of  the  Cross. 
While  she  was  wending  her  way  to  the  sepulchre, 
thinking  sadly  of  Christ  lying  in  the  tomb,  He  had 
already  risen  from  the  dead. 

When  Mary  Magdalene  reached  the  spot  the  guards 
fled,  and  she  saw  with  amazement  that  the  door  was 
thrown  open  and  the  heavy  stone  rolled  back.  She 
cast  a  quick  glance  into  the  tomb  and  not  finding 
the  body  of  her  Savior,  ran  back  in  all  haste  to  the 
city  to  warn  St.  Peter  and  the  other  disciples. 

Peter  and  John  made  haste  and  followed  Mary 
to  the  sepulchre.  St.  John,  who  was  much  younger, 
outran  Peter  and  was  the  first  to  reach  the  spot. 
They  looked  and  found  the  sepulchre  empty,  as 
Mary  had  told  them. 

Peering  into  the  dark  tomb  they  saw  the  shroud 
lying  there  which  the  risen  Christ  had  cast  off,  and 


332   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

the  napkins  which  had  wrapped  His  head  folded 
apart. 

The  two  disciples  forgot  at  this  moment  the 
promise  of  the  resurrection,  and  thinking  the  body 
of  their  Master  had  been  stolen,  they  were  filled 
with  distress  and  alarm,  and  hastened  to  tell  the 
other  disciples    what    they    had    seen. 

Notice  all  these  details,  my  children,  for  they 
show  plainly  that  the  Apostles  had  had  no  thought, 
as  the  Jews  suspected,  of  taking  away  the  body  of 
Christ  to  prove  his  resurrection.  They  did  not  even 
believe  Christ  would  fulfill  His  promise  and  rise 
from  the  dead. 


Christ  Appears  to  Mary  Magdalene 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    333 


CHAPTER  CXIV. 

CHRIST  APPEARS  TO  MARY  MAGDAI^ENE. 

Grandma  Mary  Magdalene  remained  at  the  holy 
sepulchre,  after  Peter  and  John  had  gone  back  to  tell 
the  Apostles  of  the  event  they  had  witnessed. 

L-elf  alone,  Mary  knelt  near  the  tomb,  thinking  of 
Him  whom  she  loved,  who  had  been  laid  there. 
Now  she  knew  not  even  where  His  body  lay. 

Drawing  nearer  she  peered  into  the  open  sepulchre 
and  saw  two  Angels  clothed  in  white  seated  on 
either  side  "where  the  body  of  Jesus  had  been  laid." 

They  spoke  to  her :     ' '  Woman ,  why  weepest  thou  ? ' ' 

Weeping  bitterly,  Mary  replied:  "Because  they 
have  taken  away  my  Lord;  and  I  know  not  where 
they  have  laid  Him." 

While  speaking  she  perceived  near  her  a  man 
whom  she  took  to  be  the  gardener  who  had  charge 
of  the  grounds.  Tears  obscured  her  vison  and  she 
said  to  him:  "Sir,  if  thou  hast  taken  Him  hence, 
tell  me  where  thou  hast  laid  Him." 

A  voice  which  she  knew  well,  and  loved  beyond  all 
other  voices,  called  her  by  name:     "Mary!" 

She  started  up  in  glad  surprise  and  saw  her  beloved 
Savior  standing  before  her.     In  her  joy  she  cast 


334   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

herself  at  His  feet  to  cover  them  anew  with  kisses. 
But  Jesus  said  to  her:  "Do  not  touch  Me,  for  I 
am  not  yet  ascended  to  My  Father.  But  go  to  My 
brethren,  and  say  to  them:  I  ascend  to  My  Father 
and  to  your  Father,  to  My  God  and  to  your  God." 

Louis:  Why  does  our  Lord,  who  is  God,  say  He 
is  going  to  God? 

Grandma:  Because,  as  you  know,  He  was  true 
man  as  well  as  true  God.  As  man,  Jesus  prayed, 
adored  God,  and  obeyed  Him,  even  as  we  do.  In 
His  human  nature,  God  was  truly  His  God.  Mary 
Magdalene  hastened  to  obey  her  Master,  and,  her 
heart  full  of  joy,  she  ran  to  announce  to  the  disciples 
the  glad  tidings  of  the  resurrection.  But  they  did 
not   believe   Mary's  testimony. 

Elizabeth:  It  is  surprising  that  the  Apostles 
would  not  believe  in  the  resurrection  which  Jesus 
had  foretold  and  which  Mary  Magdalene  had  seen 
with  her  own  eyes.  Really  these  men  did  not 
deserve  the  love  Jesus  bore  them. 

Grandma:  Remember  the  Apostles  were  still 
weak  and  ignorant  men.  They  had  not  as  yet 
received  the  Holy  Ghost,  who  confirmed  their  faith 
and  enlightened  their  understanding.  You  will  see 
that  after  the  coming  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  these  ignorant 
weak,  and  timid  men  became  eloquent,  full  of 
courage  and  learning,  and  converted  thousands  of 
unbelievers   to   the   Faith. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  UFE  OF  CHRIST    335 


CHAPTER  CXV. 

CHRIST  APPEARS  TO  THE  HOI.Y  WOMEN. 

Grandma:  A  few  hours  later  Mary,  the  mother 
of  James  and  Solome,  and  two  other  holy  women, 
went  to  the  Holy  Sepulchre  to  help  Mary  Magdalene, 
embalm  the  body  of  Jesus.  On  the  way  they  asked 
each  other  anxiously  how  they  would  enter  the 
sepulchre,  thinking  of  the  huge  stone  which  closed  its 
entrance.  As  they  drew  nearer,  they  saw  with 
surprise  the  stone  rolled  back,  the  sepulchre  opened 
and  deserted. 

They  hastened  forward  and  looked  into  the  tomb, 
but  in  vain,  the  body  of  their  Lord  was  not  there. 
They  were  seized  with  consternation  and  fright  as 
they  saw  a  bright  angel  seated  at  the  head  of  the 
Sepulchre;  but  the  angel  reassured  them,  saying: 
"Be  not  affrighted;  you  seek  Jesus  of  Nazareth, 
who  was  crucified :  He  is  risen,  as  He  said,  He  is  not 
here;  behold  the  place  where  they  laid  Him.  But 
go,  tell  His  disciples  and  Peter  that  He  goeth  before 
you  into  Galilee ;  there  you  shall  see  Him,  as  He  told 
you." 

Henry:  Why  does  the  angel  say  they  are  to  tell 
Peter  especially  ? 


330   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Grandma:  Our  Lord  had  chosen  St.  Peter  to  be 
Head  of  the  Apostles,  and  they  recognized  him  as 
their  chief;  and  the  angel  here  confirms  his  headship. 

At  the  words  of  the  angel,  they  recalled  the 
prophecy  of  our  Lord  and,  filled  with  awe  and  wonder, 
they  sped  back  to  Jerusalem  to  bear  the  glad  tidings 
to  the  disciples.  But,  behold,  as  they  made  haste, 
Christ  Himself  stood  before  them.      "Hail !"  he  said. 

They  cast  themselves  at  His  feet  and  adored  Him. 
Jesus  spoke  to  them :  "Fear  not,  go  tell  My  brethren 
that  they  depart  into  Galilee  and  there  they  shall  see 
Me."  Saying  this,  Christ  disappeared  and  the  holy 
women  did  as  He  told  them;  but  the  Apostles  be- 
lieved their  word  no  more  than  they  had  believed 
Mary  Magdalene.  They  persisted  in  their  incredulity. 

Elizabeth:  It  seems  to  me  the  Apostles  are  very 
stubborn.     I  would  have  believed. 

Grandma:  God  permitted  their  presistent  in- 
credulity to  aid  our  faith.  The  more  incredulous 
they  were  in  the  beginning,  the  greater  the  value  of 
their  word  to  us  when  they  came  to  believe  in  the 
resurrection.  The  testimony  they  gave  of  the  risen 
Christ,  a  testimony  they  confirmed  with  their  blood, 
is  all  the  stronger  because  of  their  slowness  of  belief. 


Christ  Appears  to  the  Disciples  on  the  Road  to  Emmaus 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    337 


CHAPTER  CXVI. 

CHRIST  APPEARS  TO    THE     DISCIPLES    ON    THE     ROAD 
TO  EMMAUS. 

Grandma:  Towards  evening  on  the  day  of  the 
resurrection,  two  of  the  disciples  were  walking 
on  the  road  to  Emmaus,  a  small  village  outside  of 
Jerusalem.  On  the  way  they  were  conversing  sadly 
together  of  the  coming  of  the  Messias,  and  of  His 
crucifixion. 

Jesus  drew  near,  but  they  did  not  know  Him ;  and 
walking  on  with  them.  He  asked  them  the  cause  of 
their  sadness.  Willingly  the  disciples  told  Him 
of  the  events  of  the  past  few  days,  and  they  added 
sadly:  "We  indeed  hoped  He  would  have  delivered 
Israel,  and  now,  besides  all  this,  this  is  the  third 
day  since  these  things  were  done;  and  some  of  the 
women  of  our  company  affrighted  us,  who  before 
it  was  light  were  at  the  sepulchre,  and  not  finding 
His  body,  came,  saying  that  they  had  also  seen  a 
vision  of  angels  who  say  that  He  is  alive.  And 
some  of  our  people  went  to  the  sepulchre  and  found 
it  so  as  the  women  had  said,  but  Him  they  found  not." 

Then  Jesus  said  to  them:  "O  foolish  and  slow 
of  heart  to  believe  in  all  things  which  the  prophets 


338   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

have  spoken  Ought  not  Christ  to  have  suffered 
these  things,  and  so  to  enter  into  His  glory?" 

And  then,  beginning  from  Moses  and  the  other 
prophets,  He  explained  to  them  the  prophecies  and 
how  they  had  all  foretold  the  suffering  and  death  of 
Christ  and  His  glorious  resurrection.  Finally  they 
reached  Emmaus,  and  as  their  divine  companion 
seemed  about  to  leave  them,  eagerly  the  disciples 
begged  Him  to  stay,  saying  entreating:  "Stay  with 
us,  for  it  is  late,  and  the  day  is  drawing  to  a  close." 

Jesus  consented,  and  they  entered  the  traveler's 
inn  to  partake  of  the  evening  meal  together.  Seated 
at  table,  Jesus  took  the  bread  in  His  hands,  blessed  it, 
broke  it,  and  gave  it  to  His  companions.  In  His 
blessed  hands  the  bread  was  changed  into  His 
Sacred  Body  and  these  happy  disciples  received 
Communion  from  our  Lord's  hands.  Then  their  eyes 
were  opened  and  they  knew  their  Master,  who 
disappeared  before  them.  They  said  to  one  another : 
"Were  not  our  hearts  all  burning  within  us,  while 
He  talked  with  us  on  the  way?"  They  knew  at 
last  that  their  companion  was  none  other  than  the 
risen  Savior,  and  they  hastened  back  to  Jerusalem 
to  announce  the  glad  tidings  to  the  other  disciples. 

But  even  then  the  disciples  would  not  believe  that 
the  crucified  Jesus  was  now  alive  and  risen  from  the 
dead. 


THE  CHILDREN'S  UFE  OF  CHRIST     339 


CHAPTER  CXVII. 

CHRIST    APPEARS    TO    THE    DISCIPI^ES    GATHERED 
TOGETHER. 

Grandma:  The  disciples  were  assembled  together 
and  the  doors  shut.  No  doubt  they  were  discussing 
among  themselves  the  wonders  the}'  had  heard. 
Suddenly  Jesus  stood  before  them,  and  spoke: 
"Peace  be  to  you;  it  is  I,  fear  not." 

But  they  were  frightened,  for  they  thought  they 
saw  a  ghost.  But  the  sweet  voice  they  knew  so 
well  added:  "Why  are  you  troubled,  and  why  do 
thoughts  arise  in  your  hearts  ? ' '  And  showing  them 
His  hands  and  His  feet,  which  bore  the  holes  made 
by  the  nails.  He  added.  "See  My  hands  and  My 
feet,  it  is  I  Myself;  handle,  and  see:  for  a  spirit 
hath  not  flesh  and  bones,  as  you  see  Me  to  have." 

And  while  the  disciples  hesitated,  divided  be- 
tween hope  and  fear,  the  Geod  Master,  always 
patient,  ofifered  them  one  last  sign  to  convince  them: 
"Have  you  here  anything  to  eat?"  He  asked. 
They  offered  Him  a  piece  of  broiled  fish  and  some 
honey.  He  ate  of  these,  not  because  He  was  hungry, 
but  to  prove  to  the  disciples  that  He  was  truly  risen 


340   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

from  the  dead.  Then  He  distributed  among  them 
what  was  left. 

At  last  the  disciples  were  convinced.  They  saw 
with  their  own  eyes,  they  touched  with  their  own 
hands,  their  risen  Lord.  Downcast  and  disheart- 
ened but  a  moment  before,  now  they  were  full  of  joy 
and  gladness.  They  adored  Christ  Jesus,  risen  from 
the  dead.  Then  our  Lord  reproached  them  for  the 
hardness  of  their  hearts  and  their  slowness  of  belief, 
and  He  enlightened  their  hearts  that  they  might 
understand  that  what  the  Prophets  had  foretold 
concerning  Him  had  now  been  accomplished  in  His 
life,  death,  and  glorious  resurrection. 

He  said  to  them  again:  "Peace  be  to  you.  As 
the  Father  hath  sent  Me,  I  also  send  you.  When  He 
had  said  this.  He  breathed  on  them;  and  He  said 
to  them:  Receive  ye  the  Holy  Ghost.  Whose  sins 
you  shall  forgive,  they  are  forgiven  them;  and  whose 
sins  you  shall  retain,  they  are  retained." 

Thus  Christ  instituted  the  Sacrament  of  Penance, 
in  which  sacrament  we  confess  our  sins  and  obtain 
their  forgiveness. 

Henry:  But  our  Lord  don't  say  we  have  to 
confess  our  sins?  He  only  speaks  of  forgiveness  of 
sins. 

Grandma:  When  our  Lord  gave  to  His  Apostles 
and  to  their  successors  power  to  forgive  and  retain 
sins.  He  knew  there  would  be  sins  in  the  lives  of  men 
which   would   need   forgiveness.     These   sins   must 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    341 

be  made  kno\vn  that  they  may  be  forgiven  or  re- 
tained. This  is  confession — the  telling  of  our  sins, 
that  we  may  receive  absolution  for  them  from  one 
who  has  the  power  to  forgive  them. 

The  priest  has  likewise  the  power  to  withhold 
forgiveness  if  he  finds  the  penitent  has  not  repented 
for  his  sins  and  has  no  firm  purpose  of  amendment. 

Remember,  therefore,  children,  that  the  Sacra- 
ment of  Penance  was  not  instituted  by  man,  but  by 
Christ  Himself  when  He  said  to  His  Apostles: 
"Whose  sins  you  shall  forgive,  they  are  forgiven 
them;  and  whose  sins  you  shall  retain,  they  are 
retained." 


342   THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  CXVIII. 

THE  INCREDULITY  OF  THOMAS. 

Grandma:  When  Christ  had  appeared  to  the 
Apostles  gathered  together,  Thomas,  one  of  the 
twelve,  was  not  with  them.  When  he  joined  the 
other  disciples  and  they  told  him  the  glad  news  of 
how  they  had  seen  and  talked  with  their  Lord,  and 
even  eaten  with  Him,  Thomas  refused  to  believe, 
He  only  answered:  "Except  I  shall  see  in  His 
hands  the  print  of  the  nails  and  put  my  finger  into 
the  place  of  the  nails,  and  put  my  hand  into  His  side, 
I   will  not  believe." 

Eight  days  later  the  Apostles  were  again  gathered 
together  and  Thomas  w^as  with  them.  The  doors 
and  windows  were  closed  as  formerly.  Suddenly 
Jesus  stood  in  their  midst  and  said  to  them: 

"Peace  be  with  you."  And  turning  to  Thomas 
He  said:  "Put  in  thy  finger  hither,  and  see  My 
hands;  and  bring  hither  thy  hand,  and  put  it  into 
My  side;  and  be  not  faithless  but  believing." 

The  unbelieving  Apostle,  now  convinced,  fell  at 
the  feet  of  Christ,  full  of  faith  and  sorrow,  crying  out : 
"My  Lord  and   my  God." 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST    343 

Jesus  said  to  him  reproachfully:  "Because  thou 
hast  seen  Me,  Thomas,  thou  hast  believed;  blessed 
are  they  that  have  not  seen,  and  have  believed." 

Jajie:  We  believe  without  seeing,  do  we  not, 
Grandma? 

Grandma:  Surely  it  is  of  us  all  our  Lord  here 
speaks:  "Blessed  are  they  who  believe  without 
seeing. ' '  But  it  is  not  sufficient  for  us  to  have  faith ; 
we  must  live  according  to  our  faith  by  practicing 
the  virtues  of  which  our  Lord  gave  us  the  example 
throughout  His  life;  and  by  living  our  lives  accord- 
ing to  His  teachings. 


344   THE  CHILDREN'vS  UFIC  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  CXIX. 

ST.  PETER  APPOINTED  HEAD  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

Grandma:  After  His  glorious  resurrection,  Christ 
remained  forty  days  on  earth.  He  appeared  fre- 
quently to  the  Apostles,  now  on  the  shores  of  the 
Lake  of  Galilee,  now  in  the  upper  room  where  the 
Last  Supper  had  been  celebrated,  and  where  they 
assembled  to  pray  and  talk  together  of  the  wonders 
they  had  witnessed. 

During  these  forty  days  Christ  taught  the  Apostles 
all  things  needful  to  the  establishment  of  His  Church. 
He  gave  them  power  to  continue  His  work. 

On  one  of  these  occasions,  on  the  shores  of  the 
Lake  of  Galilee,  Christ  spoke  to  St.  Peter,  selecting 
him  out  from  among  his  brethren:  "Simon,  son 
of  John,  lovest  thou  Me  more  than  these?" 

Peter  answered  humbly:  "Yea,  Lord,  Thou 
knowest  that  I  love  Thee." 

"Feed  My  lambs,"  our  Lord  replied, 

A  second  time  Jesus  asked  him  the  self-same 
question;     "Simon,  lovest  thou  Me?" 

Again  Peter  answered  eagerly:  "Lord,  Thou 
knowest  that  I  love  Thee." 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     345 

And  again  our  Lord  said  to  him:  "Feed  My 
lambs." 

Three  times,  as  you  know,  Peter  had  denied  Christ, 
and  Christ  now  asked  of  him  a  third  assurance  of 
his  love  and  devotion;  again  he  questioned  him: 
"Lovest  thou  Me?" 

Very  humbly,  having  in  mind  his  past  presump- 
tion and  sin,  Peter  replied:  "Lord,  Thou  knowesi: 
all  things:     Thou  knowest  that  I  love  Thee." 

Then  Jesus  looked  on  him  lovingly  and  said: 
"Feed  My  sheep." 

Paul:  Of  what  lambs  and  of  what  sheep  was  our 
Lord  speaking? 

Grandma:  The  lambs  of  which  our  Lord  spoke 
are  all  the  faithful  of  the  Church  of  Christ.  The 
sheep  are  the  pastors,  the  bishops,  the  priests,  who 
baptize  us  and  teach  us  all  truths.  Sheep  and 
lambs  all  form  one  flock,  under  the  guidance  of  one 
shepherd,  St.  Peter  and  his  successors,  our  Holy 
Father  the  Pope,  the  Vicar  of  Christ  on  earth. 
Therefore,  we  all  obey  the  Holy  Father  as  Christ's 
representative,  the  successor  of  St.  Peter,  whom 
Christ  Jesus  appointed  Head  of  His  Church  on  earth. 


346   THK  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


CHAPTER  CXX. 

CHRIST  ASCENDS  INTO  HEAVEN. 

Grandma:  The  forty  days  following  the  resur- 
rection were  over.  The  time  had  come  for  Christ 
to  leave  this  earth;  His  disciples  and  Apostles  were 
gathered  around  Him  for  the  last  time.  Jesus  led 
this  band  of  faithful  ones  to  the  brow  of  the  Mount 
of  Olives,  outside  of  Jerusalem.  He  spoke  to  the 
Apostles  saying:  "Thus  it  is  written,  and  thus  it 
behooved  Christ  to  sniffer,  and  to  rise  again  from 
the  dead  the  third  day.  And  you  are  witnesses  of 
these  things  unto  all  nations,  beginning  at  Jerusalem. 
And  I  send  the  promise  of  My  Father  upon  you ;  but 
stay  you  in  the  city,  till  you  be  endued  with  power 
from  on  high." 

And  lifting  up  His  hands  He  blessed  them  and 
said  to  them:  "Go  ye  into  the  world,  whole  and 
preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature.  Baptize  them 
in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  Teaching  them  to  observe  all  things 
whatsoever  I  have  commanded  you;  and  behold  I 
am  with  you  all  days,  even  to  the  consummation  of 
the  world." 


Christ  Ascends  into  Heaven 


THE  CHILDREN'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST     347 

Thus  solemnly  our  Lord  took  leave  of  His  Apostles. 
And  behold  He  was  raised  up  before  them  and  a 
bright  cloud  hid  Him  from  their  sight.  Thus 
Christ  "departed  from  them  and  was  carried  up  to 
Heaven." 

The  mystery  of  the  Redemption  was  accomplished^ 
original  sin  atoned  for,  the  Church  of  Christ  estab- 
lished, and  the  Blessed  Eucharist  instituted. 
Through  this  Sacrament  Jesus  Christ  remains  with 
us,  hidden  under  the  appearances  of  bread  and  wine, 
though  His  visible  bodily  presence  has  been  with- 
drawn from  this  earth. 


